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no.  i    november-december  1971       toronto 


M 


The  Body  Politic 


aRnrasQBERftDE 


When  I  first  came  to  Toronto  several 
years  ago  I  had  never  heard  of  that  an- 
nual ritual  known  as  Hallowe'en  on  Yonge 
Street.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  being  baBlc  - 
ally  a  closet  case,  I  avoided  the  event 
completely  the-  first  year  I  was  here. 
However,  the  word  from  both  my  many 
straight  friends  and  my  few  gay  ones 
was  thai  Hallowe'en  on  Yonge  Street  was 
an  experience  not  to  be  missed.  So,  when 
the  next  October  31st  arrived, 1  put  on  my 
most  ingenious  disguise  and,  armed  with 
the  company  of  a  straight  girl  friend,  I 
headed  for  Yonge  Street. 

Coming  as  I  did  from  a  town  where 
the  very  thought  of  a  bar  catering  ex- 
clusively to  homosexuals  would  have 
driven  die  local  populace  to  prepare 
nooses  and  stakes,  the  sight  of  thousands 
of  people  gathered  to  watch  men  walk  the 
streets  openly  in  female  costume  blew 
my  mind. 

A  mixture  of  emotions  was  stirred 
within  me.    I  felt  a  sense  of  elation  at 
this  blatant  display  of  homosexual  culture; 
it  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  seen  gay 
people  revealing  themselves  publicly  as 
gays.    When  the  crowd  gasped  at  some 
particularly  stunning  drag  queen,  I  felt 
a  strange  sense  of  pride  in  being  a  gay 
person.  But  then  I  would  become  aware 
of  the  jeers  and  the  contemptuous  laugh- 
ter, and  another  part  of  me  would  feel 
ashamed.  I  realized  that  the  straights 
were  laughing  at  me,  the  part  of  me 
that  the  drag  queens  represented.  Then 
I  would  hate  the  drag  queens.  They  seem- 
ed to  be  satisfying  the  straight  belief 
that  all  faggots  were  limp-wristed  and 
effeminate.  And  I  knew  this  wasn't  true; 
after  all,  I_  wasn't  effeminate,  was  1? 

Well,  several  Hallowe'ens  have  passed 
since  then  and  until  recently  me  reaction 
to  the  event  had  remained  pretty  much 
the  same.  But  since  last  Hallowe'en  I've 
done  some  thinking  on  the  subject  and  I've 
made  an  interesting  discovery.  I've  dis- 
covered the  paradox  of  Hallowe'en:  that 
it's  not  the  drag  queens  who  are  in  dis- 
guise; the  ones  who  are  hiding  behind 
maf»kh  are  the  many  gays  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street  who  are  trying  to  pass 
themselves  off  as  straights,  and  the 
straights  themselves. 

Consider  the  situation  for  a  moment. 


Thousands  of  people  gather  to  laugh  or 
pour  abuse  at  a  few  men  who  look  very 
much  like  women.  If  those  same  men 
were  really  women,  nobody  would  find 
anything  remarkable  in  this  event.  Some- 
how the  idea  of  a  person  daring  to  cross 
the  sexual  lines  is  a  matter  of  great  im- 
portance. And  the  drag  queens  show  us 
how  easy  it  is  to  cross  these  lines,  how 
superficial  the  distinctions  really  are. 
It's  just  a  matter  of  wearing  your  hair 
differently,  of  wearing  different  clothes, 
of  walking  differently,  a  few  other  min- 
or adjustments.  Doesn't  this  suggest  to 
us  that  sex  really  is  a  matter  of  surfaces, 
of  roles  that  we  play,  of  masks  that  we 
wear  every  day,  not  just  on  Hallowe'en? 

And  doesn't  it  make  you  wonder  why 
such  a  harmless  act  should  provoke  such 
edgy  laughter,  such  hostility?  Maybe  be- 
cause there's  something  at  stake,  be- 
cause the  status  quo  must  be  protected 
and  its  true  vulnerability  kept  hidden. 
In  this  hierarchical  world  being  a  man  is 
a  necessary  condition  to  attaining  any 
significant  place  in  the  power  structure 
(along  with  other  conditions  like  being 
WASP  and  heterosexual).  But  the  preser- 
vation of  this  power  involves  the  subord- 
ination of  fully  half  the  human  race,  all 
those  people  with  different  genital  organs . 


Coming  Out 

The  march  drags  on 

step  after  step 

blood -caked  feet 

shuffle  under  bodies  bowed 

with  dulled  eyes 

mirroring  broken  spirits. 

Does  it  matter 

if  tomorrow  never  comes 

if  today  I  live? 

Isolated 

I  fell  to  the  ground 

beating  my  fists 

in  futile  hate 

but  she  crept  to  me 

in  the  darkness 

and  raised  my  head 

to  see  the  stars. 

--Iris 


To  keep  the  females  in  their  place  the 
males  appropriate  for  themselves  all 
those  human  characteristics  thai  have- 
high  survival  value  (e.g.  intellect,  ag- 
gressiveness) and  confer  upon  the  fe- 
males all  those  oUier  human  character- 
istics with  low  survival  value  (e.g. feel-    * 
ing,  passivity).    But  such  an  arbitrary 
division  of  human  nature  is  hard  to  main- 
tain;   it  requires  constant  vigilance.  Any 
persons  who  attempt  to  divest  themselves 
of  these  rigid  roles,  to  cast  off  the  masks 
and  be  themselves,  must  be  hounded,  a- 
bused,  ridiculed  into  conformity.    Hence 
the  show  of  straight  strength  on  Hallowe' 
en;  an  army  of  sexual  chauvinists  is 
mustered  to  see  that  this  act  of  guerilla 
warfare  is  put  down . 

To  attain  a  state  of  true  sexual  libera- 
tion, where  people  may  relate  to  each 
other  as  real  people,  not  as  sexual  fa- 
cades, we  must  fight  sexism  whenever 
we  can.    Without  often  realizing  it  them- 
selves, drag  queens  are  at  the  forefront 
of  our  movement  in  this  respect.    Of 
course,  there  is  an  element  in  drag  of 
wishing  to  assume  the  role  of  the  op- 
pressed so  as  to  make  oneself  more  de- 
sired by  the  oppressor.    Most  of  the 
year  drag  functions  this  way.    But  on 
Hallowe'en  drag  queens  proclaim  them- 
selves publicly  as  drag  queens,  neither 
men  nor  women.    They  flaunt  our  sexu- 
al roles  at  us,  we  straights  and  gays  on 
the  other  side  of  the  street,  they  shout 
at  us,  "  See  how  silly  your  disguises 
are,  we  can  see  through  them". 

When  I  look  back  on  my  first  reac- 
tions to  Hallowe'en  I  am  better  able  to 
understand  the  feelings  I  had  then.    I 
feared  the  drag  queens  because  they 
threatened  the  premise  on  which  my 
life  was  constructed;    that  a  mask  was 
my  real  self.    But  at  the  same  time  they 
inspired  a  sense  of  elation  because  they 
showed  that  beyond  the  facade  of  sexual 
roles  there  lay  personal  freedom  . 

Hallowe'en  is  a  small  but  significant 
skirmish  in  the  wars  of  sexual  libera- 
tion. In  this  confrontation  it  is  essen- 
tial that  gays  declare  themselves;  there 
is  no  place  for  roles,  for  costumes. 
Tins  Hallowe'en  I'm  not  going  to  Yonge 
Street  in  disguise;  I'm  going  in  drag! 

--  Tony  Melic 


2    The  Body  Politic 


~     VANCOUVER  GAY  LIBERATION 


With  one  year's  experience  behind 
them,  gay  militants  in  Vancouver  are 


beg  inn  ing 


>  zero  in  on  ideas  and 


tactics  they  feel  will  build  the  gay 
liberation  movement  there. 

First  efforts  toward  the  organization 
of  gays  against  sexism  were  made 
when  the  Gay  Liberation  Front  was 
initiated.    The  GLF  rapidly  became 
known  ui  the  community  for  its  rejection 
of  the  gay  subculture  and  its  radical 
ideas,  although  us  ideas  were  rarely 
worked  out  and  specified.    The  most 
prominent  view  expressed  by  die  GLF 
was  that  gay  liberation  had  to  consider 
itself  a  part  of  a  wider  revolutionary 
movement,    rather  than  concerning 
itself  with  problems  of  the  gay  commun- 
ity only.    Being  a  member  of  the  GLF 
meant  that  you  considered  yourself  a 
"gay  Vietcong" . 

As  many  gay  militants  who  were  in 
favor  of  organizing  gays  m  their  own 
behalf  did  not  consider  themselves  as 
part  of  other  revolutionary  movements, 
GLF  membership  and  activities  declined 
drastically.    Recently,  a  small  group 
of  GLFers  has  reoriented  the  group 
towards  activities  which  are  more  con- 
cerned with  personal  relationships;  the 
GLF  has  closed  its  office  and  is  open- 
ing a  gay  coffee-house. 

As  the  GLF  was  closing  its  office,  a 
•new  group  was  justopeningtheirs.    The 
Gay  Alliance  Toward  Equality  (GATE), 
founded  at  the  beginning  of  the  summer, 
is  getting  set  up  in  a  bright  office  at 
1131  Richards  St.,  #105,  in  the  Downtown 
area. 

GATE  was  founded  by  gays  who  had 
been  in  the  GLF  until  they  felt  it  could 
not  provide  the  means  for  organizing 
gays.    They  criticized  the  undemocrat- 
ic and  unstructured  forms  of  GLF, 
pointing  out  that  it  allowed  a  small  grou[ 
of  leaders  to  speak  and  act  in  the  name 
of  the  group  without  being  responsible 
to  the  membership  for  their  words 
and  actions.    They  felt  that  a  gay 
liberation  organization  would  encourage 
all  gays  to  join  and  fight  for  liberation, 
not  just  those  who  considered  them- 
selves "revolutionaries".    They  felt 
that  it  was  more  important  to  work  out 
a  set  of  demands  for  gay  civil  rights 
than  to  talk  vaguely  about  "liberation 
of  our  heads"  .    Unlike  the  GLF,  which 
they  felt  had  become  a  closed  circle  of 
political  gays,  they  felt  that  the  gay 
liberation  movement  had  to  be  involving 
people  in  a  public  fight  with  all  the  insti- 
tutions of  gay  oppression:  the  govern- 
ments, the  school  boards,  the  psychiat- 
rists, the  landlords  and  the  employers. 

Although  GATE  began  as  a  discussion 
circle,  it  quickly  came  to  see  the  nec- 
essity for  organization.    The  first 
meetings  re -affirmed  the  basic  prem- 
is  of  gay  liberation:  that  gay  is  just 
as  good  as  straight,  and  that  GATE 
would  not  rest  until  full  equality  with 
heterosexuality  was  achieved.    Soon 
the  group  decided  that  only  action 
which  was  aimed  at  winning  the  sym- 
pathy of  large  numbers  of  the  populat- 
ion, would  lead  the  group  to  its  twin 
goals:  social  justice  and  the  re-educa- 
tion of  the  people.    A  constitution  was 


adopted  at  the  second  meeting.    This 
was  not  a  legalistic  document,  but 
rather  an  outline  of  how  a  membership  • 
controlled  organization  would  work. 
The  steering  committee  and  all  officers 
make  decisions  which  are  in  line  with 
general  policy  which  is  decided  at 
Congresses,  to  be  held  frequently.  All 
officers  and  committees  are  responsib- 
le to  the  General  meeting,  which  la 
held  at  regular  intervals.    The  male 

and  female  components  of  the  gay  move 

men!  are  constitutionally  recognized       ' 
in  the  election  ut  twin  chairpersons, 
one  male  and  the  other  female.    Meet- 
ings don't  wander  aimlessly;  rules  of 
order  were  adopted  which  specify  pro- 
cedure of  motion,  debate,  and  vote, 
and  rights  of  members  in  meetings. 

In  the  summer  months  GATE  did 
many  things  to  illustrate  its  points. 
It  held  Vancouver's  first  public  homo- 
sexual rally,  in  solidarity  with  the 
Ottawa  rally  on  Aug.  28.    GATE  chal- 
lenged the  anti-gay  discrimination  of 
the  YMCA  by  lodging  a  complaint  via 
the  Human  Right  Act  (and  was  told  by 
Government  that,  "sorry  fellows", 
homosexuals  don't  have  any  human 
rights).    And  GATE  began  to  spread 
the  word  among  the  population,  that 
homosexuals  were  just  as  capable  of 
fighting  for  civil  rights  as  anyone.    In 
general  it  is  being  taken  seriously, 
even  by  the  mass  media. 

One  important  lesson  that  GATE 
learned  is  that  it  takes  much  more  than 
words  to  liberate  gay  people.    People 
have  to  be  sure  of  our  aims  and  con- 
fident of  our  abilities  before  they  will 
follow  a  liberation  organization.    For 
example,  GATE  had  to  assure  mem- 
bers that  being  a  GATE  militant  didn't 
mean  announcing  to  everyone  on  Earth 
that  you  are  homosexual.    Quite  the 
contrary,  a  gay  organization  allows 
gays  to  militate  anonymously  and  col- 
lectively, to  create  the  conditions 
which  will  allow  them  later  to  "come 

out"  fully. 

The  people  who  started  GATE  discov 
ered  a  whole  new  way  of  relating  to 
other  gays  -  not  simply  as  sexual  ob- 
jects.   This  has  made  the  group 
strong.    Common  dissatisfaction  with 
the  gay  subculture  and  its  anti-gay 
attitudes  and  roles,  the  desire  to  see 
the  homosexual  personality  deepened 
and  developed  -  these  are  the  factors 
which  give  us  hope  in  the  future  and 
confidence  in  the  work  which  GATE 
is  carrying  out. 

But  all  these  hopes  will  come  to  no- 
thing if  certain  Important  elements 
are  missing.    GATE  considers  these 
elements  to  be: 

-  consistency 

-  honesty 

-  organization 

-  democracy 

-  action 

Of  course,  GATE  is  not  yet  working 
like  a  smoothly-running  machine,  and 
it  will  take  a  long  time  before  some  of 
our  aims  are  realized  within  the  or- 
ganization.   But  al  least  GATE  knows 
clearly  what  it  is  trying  to  achieve, 
and  how  to  go  about  It. 


THE  BODY  POLITIC   is  a  Gay  Libera- 
tion newspaper  published  in  Toronto 
by  The  Body  Politic  Editorial  Col- 
lective.    Our  purpose  is  three-fold: 

a)  to   inform  the  gay  community 
^bout  NEWS  events  involving  the   - 
gay  liberation  movement. 

b)  to  provide  a  forum  for  indi- 
viduals to  express  their  views 
on  sexual   politics. 

c)  to  publish  prose,  poetry,  book 
and  film  reviews,  and  graphics 
relevant  to  gay  liberation. 

Gay  Community  is  what  you  make 
it.  We  welcome  your  contributions: 
news,  editorials,  personal  accounts, 
letters,  philosophical  meanderings, 
poems,    interviews,   book  &  film 
reviews  -- 

reviews,  graphics,  photos,  etc. 
Correspondence  should  he  directed 
to:  The  Rody  Politic 

Apt.   8 

f>5  Kendal   Ave. 

Toronto  4.  Ontario  CANADA 

The  Editorial  Collective  for  each 
issue  includes  those  individuals 
contributing  to  the: 

content  (articles,  artwork)  &  or 
printing  (typing  &  layout) 
Members  of  the  collective  have  a  vote 
in  all  decisions  pertinent  to  the 
publication  of  the  paper.  Content  & 
and  arrangement  are  decided  on  by  the 
collective  during  editorial  meetings 
and  during  layout. 

For  the  first  issue:  Charlie,  Alan, 
Aileen,  Tony  Metie,  Herbert  Spiers, 
Kent,  Andre,  Bart  Moncq,  Jude,  John, 
David  Newcome,  Jerry  Moldenhauer, 
Pete,  Paul  MacDonald,  Brian  Waite 

photos:  J  Moldenhauer 


* 


*\&^*6 


Destruction  of  sexual  duality: 


Gay  liberation  is  a  farce  as  long  as  we 
retain  genital  -  based  identities.    There  Ifl 
no  pride  in  being  a  'man'  or  a  'woman'. 
Straiglitness  is  the  assumption  that  the 
world  is  divided  into  two  'natural'  human 

types masculine  -  feminine,  lady  - 

gentleman,  ying  -  yang,  fucker    -  ftickee, 

Sexual  preference,  or  what  is  considered 
sexually  attractive  18  the  result  01  i  rain 
washing.    The  motive  of  brainwashing  is 
the  retention  of  a  power  structure. 
It  is  a  sick  heterosexual  world  thai  de- 
fines us  as  'man'  and  'woman',  dictating 
behaviour  accordingly.    Tins  role  expect- 
ation colours  every  aspect  of  one's  life. 
It  dictates  what  you  wear,  your  career  (if 
any),  and  who  your  friends  are. 
'Men'  and  'women'  are  separate  and  In- 
complete identities  forced  io  relate  in 
prescribed  patterns.    Both  art    Inadequate 
and  incapable  of  loving  even  themselves. 
There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  'real  man' 
or  a  "real  woman'.    There  are  only 
fucked -up  ideals  of  fucked -up  minds, 
a  figment  of  the  straight  mind  projected 
to  us  all  as  the  ultimate  goal . . .  There 
can  be  no  healthy  relationships  between 
male  and  female  until  there  is  no  longer 
'man'  and  'woman'. 

What  is  considered  physically  perverted 
in  gay  relationships  by  the  straight 
society  is  considered  normal  and  even 
necessary  if  included  in  straight 
relationships.    It  really  isn't  that  oral 
or  anal  aspect  of  sexual  behaviour  is 
objected  to ....  it1  s  the  breaking  of  the 
world's  most  important  rule . . . . 
recognition  of  two  distinct  sexes  and 
their  appropriate  performance,* 
Sex  is  something  that  happens  between 
male  and  female  only   (or  more  exacting 
what  men  do  to  women). 


BETTER 

BLATANT 

THAN 

uranr 


Toronto --Twilight  Rose  of  the  Van- 
couver GLF  'Ephexnt  i  als'  Fai  tlon  La  n 

ported  to  be  back  in  her  home  town  of 
Toronto . 

She  plans  to  ix  here  for  "a  month  or 
.so  depending  on  ■■  hi  ther  or  not  Mr. 

' : .  B.  i  ><  '■■■!  Uli   dlsi  o\  i  i     mi  I       1 1 
Roi  ■    .■..!    quofi  d         ..■  Lnjj  '. 

nine  of 
opice  of  lengthy 

...    well      ■ 

■ 

i  phi  .::,  i  all  n 
thj   '■'"  i  ■■  ..I    listi  i  hood  and  th<    |i  llj 

■  D   li I   fo]     ilu     f(      i  i 


Political  gays  (sexual  politics)  do  not 
Love  the  same  "sex"  for  straight  reasons 
li  is  noi  [he  so  called  "manliness  or 

womanliness"  that  attracts  us  to  the 

same  "sex",     li  is  rather  the  similarity 
to  oneself. .  .the  denial  of  duality  and 

•  niplKJMs  Dii  similarity.     Equal  relat- 

H'fislilps   ■ illy   i   SIM    lu  IwcVll    LijlKlls  . 

Inversion  is  the  most  positive  Identity 

possible  In  the  situation  as  n  is  now. 
IIk  deatrut  tlon  of  duality  will  emerge 
with  the  refusal  to  be  part  of  the  sexism 

perpetuated  by  the  straight  games  of 

cruising,  courtship,  marriage,  family, 
religion,  fashion,  entertainment; etc. 


Playing  oui  sexual  roles  La  just  a  mimic 
■  •I  the  straights.    We  don't  have  to  accept 

the  rules  of  the  oppressors  any  mott   .  .  . 

Why  Qattez  theli  egos  by  retaining  the 
3i     nil  ii  y  they  have  dictated  to  us? 
"Man  and  woman'  must  be  obliterated. 
Gay  oppression  is:    explaining  sweetly 
Over  and  over  again  that  we  feel 
oppressed. 

Gay  oppression  is:    presenting  'logical' 
briefs  to  our  lord  and  master. 
Gay  oppression  is:  not  offending  big 
daddy. 

A  gay  male  is  not  a  "man"  . 
A  gay  female  is  not  a  "woman" . 
Neither  are  we  inoffensive  flower  child- 
ren.   No  more  apologizing! 
We  are  dangerous  to  the  sexist  structure! 
We  refuse  to  be  'men'  and  'women'. 
Therefore  the  sexist  rules  of  proper 
behaviour  don't  mean  anything  to  us. 
We  recognize  the  sickness  of  "straight" 
and  are  organizing  to  end  it. 


JUDE     -    RADICAL  PERVERT 


O 


vities.  A  highlight  of  the  departure 
occured  when  Va-Va-Voom  (who  is 
now  officially  Madame  Wow)  clad  in 
heavy  hlatk  Vailing  and  fairly  drip- 
ping in  widow's  weeds  thrust  a 
lightly  scented  dayglo  rose  into 
Mies  Twilight's  hand  and  sobbingly 
exclaimed  "We'U  sure  miss  ya  TwJU"\ 

Ruby  Tuesday  (a  fancy  dancer  m  |u  i 
own  right)  presented  to  Miss  Rose  a 

1  nlqtiita  banana  and  teaj  full]  | 

out:  "Love  it  (o  death,  slater! ". 

During  her  Toronto  stay,  Miss  Rose 

win  be  conferring  with  a  group  ol  *  Ity 
i'1- era  on  designs  for  a  new  down- 

'"■ 

Shi  aJ  io  plant  to  dlsi  u  ■■■  methods 
ol  produi  n     1. 1:  ■!..,  i  .  i  Jieaplj .  thai 
afft  i  lively 

■K hi     Bj  .i    r     .i    I I 

1 '■''      ■ ■'  ■■ 

I   I 
the  main  objt  ctivi  , 

01     ■:  !■■■,     epi 

" 

...-, 

j  ... 
|  -in    poor  quality  of  Tor- 


The  Body  Politic    3 


HOM-OXSIDE  IN  A  CLOSET 


I  Just  read  the  Georgia  Straight  about  gays.  Well 
I  came  out  of  the  closet  like  they  say  to  dp.  But  what 'a 
disappointment.  Maybe  It's  the  ones  1  met  to  make  me 
feel  that  way.  I  thought  we  were  all  sisters  and  brothers 
I  guess  I  am  not  accepted.  I  sure  wished  the  bell  I 
stayed  In  the  closet.  But  I  am  going  back  and  look  at 
nude  boy  pictures  and  Jack  oft.  I  know  I  will  be  happy- 
er.  I  know  that  all  gays  are  not  the  same.  There  must 
be  nice  ones.  But  just  like  they  say  In  the  show  called 
Boys  In  the  Bind,  "A  happy  homosexual  Is  a  dead 
bomoseruaL" 

Allan  Oxslde 

OPEN  LETTER  TO 
ALLAN  OXSIDE 

Dear  Allan: 

A  lot  of  gay  people  will  relate  to  what  you  say  Id  your 
letter  which  wai  published  in  Tuesday's  Straight.  Id 
your  letter  you  spoke  about  the  disIUusionment  you  feel 
after  having  "come  out"  Into  the  "gay  world." 

Tbe  Gay  Alliance  Toward  Equality  was  formed  by  gays 
like  yourself  -  people  who  felt  that  there  was  more  to 
being  ga?  thai  what  Goats  on  the  top  of  the  "gay  world." 
L*l  me  tell  yog  how  we  view  tbe  problem  of  promis- 
cuity,   competitlveoess,    shallowness    aod    (be   lack  of 


We  gays  are  all  alienated  and  divided  to  one  degree 
or  another.  As  soon  as  we  became  aware  of  our  homo- 
sexuality, we  found  out  Out  we  were  living  in  a  closet, 
and  that  our  birthright-  the  right  to  happiness  -  bad 
been  taken  away  from  us. 

Don't  believe  for  one  moment  that  "coming  out"  Into 
the  gay  world  means  leaving  tbe  closet  behind  forever. 
In  reality,  95%  of  our  minds  and  bodies  are  still  in 
tbe  closet,  because  we  sbUl  live  In  an  anti-gay  society. 
Tbe  closet  door  Is  only  open  a  crack.  Sexism,  wblcb  Is 
the  oppression  of  gays  on  the  basis  of  sexuality,  also 
oppresses  us  within  our  community  by  fostering  the 
shallow,  competitive  and  stereotyped  life-style.  All  of 
us  absorb  antagonisms  and  self-hate  which  are  tee- 
tered by  society.  The  "Gay  world"  Is  not  a  gay  world 
at  all;  it  is  an  ANTI-GAY  world  populated  by  gays. 

Women's  libera Uonists  will  tell  you  how  women  are 
taught  to  hate  and  compete  with  each  other,  and  bow 
this  weakens  and  dehumanlres  them.  It's  much  the 
same  with  gays.  But  we  don't  have  to  accept  this.  In 
net,  we  have  to  reject  it  outright,  and  overcome  di- 
versions Jiy  building  tbe  kind  of  solidarity  which  will 
finally  bust  us  out  of  the  closet.  This  Is  the  first  step 
In  regaining  the  rights  we  claim.  We  have  to  reject 
the  cynicism  of  The  Boys  In  The  Band  and  similar 
voices  from  the  "gay  subculture"  which  tell  us  mat 
"A  happy  honiiivMu!  Is  a  dead  homosexual."  When 
someone  says  something  like  mat  they  are  merely 
mouthing  anti-homosexual  platltutdes,  often  coated 
with  psychiatric  lingo. 

The  way  we  see  It,  Allan,  no  matter  bow  fancy  you 
decorate  It,  no  closet  is  good  enough  for  our  brothers 
and  sisters.  So  don't  go  back  in.  Join  GATE  and  the  Gay 
Libera  Uoo  Movement  and  help  us  create  an  alternative 
to  the  anti-gay  "gay  world."  You  won't  find  Instant  hap- 
piness, but  you  will  find  gays  who  are  trying  to  relate 
to  themselves  as  mora  than  sexual  objects.  The  process 
has  only  begun,  and  we  still  suffer  from  alienation  and 
division,  and  we  will  continue  to  do  so  for  a  long  time. 
But  the  conscious  effort  to  overcome  this  makes  us  all 
more  complete  ami  Is  very  satisfying. 

GATE 


"You  can't  get  the 

i     . 
■ 

ll    ■  ■ 

«    ■   ■  ■■-.   thi    'Ro    .   Hi  Li     ll 

clety'  (In  God  We  Thrust) 


The  Body  Politic 


The  following  brief  was   present- 
ed to   the  Federal   Government  in 
A     jst  of  this  year,.   A  demon- 
stration was   subsequently   held  by 
about   200  homosexuals  and  their 
supporters  in  support  of  the 
brief.   To  date,  no  response  has  been 
forthcoming. 


Saturday 
August  21,  1971 

Dear  Sir: 

In  1969  the  Criminal  Code  was  amen- 
ded so  as  to  make  certain  sexual  acts 
between  two  consenting  adults,  in  pri- 
vate, not  illegal.    This  was  widely  mis- 
understood as  "legalizing"  homosexu- 
ality and  thus  putting  homosexuals  on  a 
equal  basis  with  other  Canadians.    In 
fact,  this  amendment  was  merely  a  re- 
cognition of  the  non -enforceable  nature 
of  the  Criminal  Code  as  it  existed.  Con- 
sequently, its  effects  have  done  but 
little  to  alleviate  the  oppression  of  ho- 
mosexual men  and  women  in  Canada. 
In  our  daily  lives  we  are  still  confront- 
ed with  discrimination,  police  harras- 
sment,  exploitation,  and  pressures  to 
conform  which  deny  our  sexuality.  That 
prejudice  against  homosexual  people 
pervades  society  is,  in  no  small  way, 
attributable  to  practices  of  the  Federal 
government.    Therefore,  we  as  homo- 
sexual citizens  of  Canada,  present  the 
following  brief  to  our  government  as  a 
means  of  redressing  our  grievances . 
Through  Toronto  Gay  Action  as  the 
•co-ordinating  agent,  the  following  or- 
ganizations put  forth  their  names  in 
support  of  this  brief: 

The  Community  Homophile  Associa- 
tion of  Toronto,  Front  du  Liberation 
Homosexuel  (Montreal),  Gay  Alliance 
Toward  Equality  (Vancouver),  Guelpfi 
University  Homophile  Association, 
Toronto  Gay  Action,  University  of 
Western   Ontario  Homophile  Associa- 
tion, University  of  Toronto  Homophile 
Association,  Vancouver  Gay  Activist 
Alliance  (support  in  principle),   Van- 
couver Gay  Liberation  Front,  and  Gay 
Sisters  (Vancouver),  Waterloo  Univer- 
sity's Gay  Liberation  Movement,  and 
York  University  Homophile  Association. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  August  28, 
1971,  homosexual  men  and  women  and 
their  supporters  will  rally  in  front  of 
Parliament  Hill  in  support  of  this  brief. 
This  action  will  be  the  first  such  public 
demonstration  of  its  kind  in  Canada. 
Moreover,  it  will  be  the  opening  of  a 
continuing  public  campaign  until  the 
just  and  reasonable  reforms  in  the  en- 
closed brief  are  achieved,  and  until  the 
day  when  homosexual  men  and  women 
are  as  free  and  equal  as  our  heterosex- 
ual brothers  and  sisters. 

In  a  democratic  society,  if  one  min- 
ority is  denied  freedom,  all  citizens 
are  oppressed.    Finally,  in  good  faith, 
we  are  awaiting  your  response. 

Sincerely, 

Brian  Waite  and  Cheri  DeNovo, 
for  the  August.28th  Gay  Day  Com- 
mittee, 

201  Queen  Street  East, 
Toronto  227,  Ontario. 


1.    The  removal  of  the  nebulous  terms 

"gross  indecency"  and  "indecent 
act"  from  die  Criminal  Code  and  their 
replacement  by  a  specific  listing  of  of- 
fences, and  the  equalization  of  penalties 
for  all  remaining  homosexual  and  heter- 
osexual  acts;  and  defining  "in  private" 
in  the  Criminal  Code  to  mean  "a  condi- 
tion of  privacy." 


The  terms  "gross  indecency"  and  "in- 
decent act"  in  the  Criminal  Code  remain 
largely  undefined,  thus  leaving  the  of- 
fensiveness  and  degree  of  offensiveness 
of  many  sexual  acts  open  to  Interpreta- 
tion by  enforcement  officials  according 
to  their  personal  prejudices  --  which  by 
and  large  are  anti-homosexual.    There- 
fore a  specific  listing  of  public  offences 
is  crucial  in  that  only  in  this  way  can 
personal  bias  be  eradicated  and  the  legal 
intent  of  the  law  be  preserved.    In  addi- 
tion we  recommend  that  the  penalty  for 
the  specified  public  offences  be  summary 
in  cases  where  sexuality,  per  se,  is  in- 
volved, and  that  only  when  other  miti- 
gating factors  (e.g.  false  premise,  ex- 
treme youth,  threats,  etc.)  are  present, 
the  offenses  be  indictable  and,  then  only 
when  a  specific  complaint  has  been 
brought  by  a  private  citizen. 

In  our  experience  with  court  cases, 
Sections  147  and  149  of  the  Criminal 
Code  have  been  used  to  cover  public 
homosexual  acts,  an  offence  which  is 
punishable  upon  indictable  conviction; 
similar  public  heterosexual  acts  have 
usually  been  dealt  with  under  Section 
158  of  the  Criminal  Code,  an  offence 
which  is  punishable  on  summary  con- 
viction. 


WE 


Moreover,  indecent  assault  upon  a 
female  (Section  141)  can  result  in  a  max- 
imum penalty  of  five  years  imprison- 
ment, while  a  person  —  in  this  case, 
always  a  male  --  convicted  of  indecent 
assault  upon  another  male  (Section  148) 
Is  liable  to  imprisonment  for  ten  years. 
There  is  no  reason  for  the  continuation 
of  this  discrepancy  in  maximum  penal- 
ties since  the  relevant  factor  here  in- 
volved is  assault,  not  the  sex  of  the 
person  assaulted. 

Again  in  our  experience,  "in  private" 
when  applied  to  homosexual  acts  means 
strictly  in  the  confines  of  one's  home 
or  apartment  (cf.  Section  149(a)(2)  of 
the  Criminal  Code).    For  heterosexual 
acts  this  interpretation  of  "in  Private" 
Is  less  stringent,  as  the  existence  of 
"lovers' -lanes"  so  well  testifies.    A 
more  realistic  approach  is  to  supplant 
"in  private"  with  "a  condition  of  pri- 
vacy".   In  this  way,  persons  engaged 
in  sexual  acts  who  have  genuinely  at- 
tempted to  create  a  "condition  of  pri  - 
vacy"  should  not  be  arrested,  but  --  as 
now  happens  with  most  heterosexuals-- 
be  told  to  "move  along."    (For  further 
relevant  informatiomef.  Gigeroff,  Alex 
K. ;  Sexual  Deviation  in  the  Criminal 
Law,  University  of  Toronto  Press,  To- 
ronto 1968). 


ARE    ' 
HUMAN 

B*INGS 
Too 


DEMAND 


The  Body  politic    5 


2.    Removal  of  "gross  indecency"  and 

"buggery"  us  grounds  for  indictment 
as  a  "dangerous  sexual  offender"  and 
for  vagrancy. 

A  particularly  grievous  inequity 
arises  from  die  fact  that  since  persons 
convicted  of  homosexual  acts  are  usu- 
ally charged  under  Sections  147  and  149 
of  the  Criminal  Code,  they  are  liable 
to  be  labeled  as  "dangerous  sexual  of- 
'  fenders"  and  sentenced  to  "prevent- 
ative detention"  for  an  indefinite  period 
under  Section  661  of  the  Criminal  Code. 
Especially  since  "gross  indecency"  is 
undefined,  we  feel  that  the  various 
types  of  sexual  acts  falling  under  these 
charges  (Section  147  and  149)  are  of 
such  a  nature  as  not  to  be  considered 
as  a  basis  for  inclusion  under  Section 
661. 

Section  164  of  the  Criminal  Code  labels 
an  individual  as  vagrant  and  subject  to 
summary  conviction  if,  inter  alia,  he 
or  she  has  been  convicted  of  an  offence 
such  as  "gross  indecency" .    Since,  as 
noted  above;'  gross  indecency"  is  a  neb- 
ulously employed  term,  conviction 
under  this  provision  is  likewise  dubious 
in  terms  of  the  legitimate  applicability 
of  Section  164.    Denying  the  right  of  an 
individual  to  frequent  specified  places 
(viz.,  school  grounds ,  playgrounds, 
public  parks  or  bathing  areas)  on  the 
basis  of  having  been  convicted  of  "gross 
indecency"  is  excessive  especially  when 
the  specific  offence  for  which  the  indi- 
vidual was  convicted  may  have  been 
merely  an  indiscretion  and  in  no  way  a 
harmful  act.    Such  individuals  are  pre- 
vented from  subsequently  participating 
in  an  area  of  public  life.    (Not  even  a 
bank  robber  is  forever  forbidden  to 
lUi  a  bank  !) 

3.    A  uniform  age  of  consent  for  all  fe- 
male and  male  homosexual  and  het- 
erosexual acts . 

Since  the  Federal  Government  of  Can- 
ada does  not  recognize  legal  marriages 
between  homosexual  persons,  the  age  of 
consent  for  their  sexual  contact,  ipso 
facto,  is  twenty-one  years  of  age.    How- 
ever, since  heterosexual  parties  can  be 
joined  in  a  legally  recognized  marriage, 
their  age  of  consent  is  dependent  only 
upon  the  age  at  which  diey  can  legally 
enter  a  marriage  contract.    This  dispar- 
ity results  in  an  obvious  Inequity  suppor- 
ted by  Federal  Statute  (cf .  Section  149(a) 
(1)  of  the  Criminal  Code). 

Further  Inequities  result  in  that  Sec- 
tions 138,  143,  and  144  of  the  Criminal 
Code  specify  various  ages  of  consent 
for  heterosexual  acts  between  unmarried 
persons,    If  differences  in  age  of  con- 
sent are  to  be  provided  for  non-married 
heterosexuals,  the  same  should  likewise 
apply  for  homosexuals,  so  as  to  pre- 
serve the  intent  of  the  law  regardless 
of  sexual  prefe] 

In  addition  we  belieVl    that  the  age  of 
consent  (twenty -one)  for  engaging  in 


sexual  acts  --  again,  with  particular 
reference  to  homosexuals  —  is  unreal- 
istic and  should  thus  be  lowered  for  all 
the  above  reasons.    This  is  further 
supported  by  the  fact  that  a  number  of 
provinces  have  reduced  the  age  of  ma- 
jority.   The  effect  of  this  is  that  indi- 
viduals under  the  age  of  twent-one  can 
I  ntci   uuo  contractual  agreements, 
vote  and  drink  alcoholic  beverages, 
but  cannot  exercise  their  sexual  pref- 
erences due  to  Section  149(a)(1)  of  the 
Criminal  Code.    It  is  blatantly  incon- 
sistent that  an  Individual  is  recognized 
as  being  mature  enough  to  decide  for 
himself  or  herself  such  important  ques- 
tions as  entering  into  contracts,  voting, 
and  drinking,  etc.,  yet  is  not  deemed 
mature  enough  to  determine  his  or  her 
sexual  preference  --  no  small  part  of 
one's  life.    In  noting  this  we  are  not 
suggesting  what  specific  age  of  consent 
for  sexual  acts  should  be  adopted,  but 
rather  that  the  principal  of  maturity  be 
applied  uniformly  to  all  aspects  of  de- 
ciding individual  prerogatives. 


4-    The  Immigration    Act  be  ammended 

so  as  to  omit  all  references  to  ho- 
mosexuals and  "homosexualism." 

Denying  immigration  to  Canada  for 
any  individual  merely  on  the  basis  of 
his  or  her  "homosexualism"  is  Incon- 
sistent, In  principle,  with  Section  149(a) 
(1)  of  the  Criminal  Code.    Since  "homo- 
sexualism" is  not,  in  itself,  an  illegal 
practice  tetween  consenting  adults  in 
private,  the  Immigration  Act  thus  dis- 
criminates against  a  minority  group-- 
a  strange  practice  for  a  democratic 
country. 

The  clauses  discriminating  against 
homosexuals  in  the  Immigration  Act 
also  contradicts  the  intent  of  Section 
149(a)(1)  which  was  to  remove  the  gov- 
ernment "from  the  bedrooms  of  the  na- 
tion" .  The  effect  of  these  clauses  is, 
strangely  enough,  to  put  the  government 
back  into  the  bedroom--in  this  case, 
not  only  in  Canada,  but  in  other  nations 
as  well. 

Despite  the  legal  status  of  homosex- 
ual acts  in  the  country  of  origin,  the 
prospective  immigrant  may  realize 
his  or  her  homosexuality  only  after  en- 
try to  Canada  where,  supposedly,  hom- 
osexual acts  between  consenting  adults 
in  private  is  a  non-issue. 

The  Immigration  Act  therefore  blat- 


6   The  Body  Politic 

antly  denies  entry,  solely  on  the  basis 
of  sexuality,  to  potentially  valuable  in- 
dividuals who  could,  in  many  ways, 
significantly  contribute  to  Canadian  so- 
ciety. 

Finally,  the  existence  of  this  type  of 
discriminatory  legislation  deprecates 
die  moral  character  of  present  homo- 
sexual Canadian  citizens,  many  of 
whom  have  made  and  are  making  valu- 
able contributions  to  Canadian  society 
at  all  levels . 

(For  all  the  above:  cf.  paragraphs 
(e)  and  (f)  Section  5  and  Subsection  (1) 
of  Section  19  of  the  Immigration  Act.) 

5.    The  right  of  equal  employment  and 
'    promotion  at  all  government  levels 
for  homosexuals. 

While  the  intent  of  the  Criminal  Code 
amendment  (Section  149(a)(1)  was  to 
make  private  homosexual  acts  a  non  - 
issue  in  Canada,  the  proposed  taipli 
mentation  of  Paragraph  100  of  the  Royal 
Commission  on  Security,  does,  in  fact 
make  one's  homosexuality  an  issue  in 
the  promotion  of  incumbent  and  the  re- 
cruitment of  prospective  civ  11  servants. 
Again  this  practice  subverts  the  intent 

of  the  law.  ,  ,_rt 

The  "reasoning"  of  Paragraph  100  ev- 
idently relates  to  the  homosexual's  sup- 
posed suseptibility  to  coercion  or  black- 
mail arising  from  his  or  her  wish  to 
prevent  disclosure  of  his  or  her  homo- 
sexuality (past  or  present)  to  family, 
spouse,  friends ,  employers ,  constituents , 
etc.    The  individual  might  suffer  from 
such  revelation  due  to  the  prejudice 
against  homosexuals  in  most  areas  of 
our  society.    However,  with  the  great 
changes  taking  place  in  our  social-mores , 
individuals  are  less  and  less  afraid  to  a 
admit  their  homosexuality  unless  a  spe- 
cific negative  factor  will  result  from 
such  admission,  e.g.,  dismissal  or  de- 
nial of  promotion.    Thus  the  recommen- 
dation of  Paragraph  100  comes  full  circle , 
reinforcing  the  situation  the  Report  is 
trying  to  prevent. 

It  Is  evident  that  if  an  individual  freely 
admits  his  or  her  homosexuality  and  is 
not  afraid  of  disclosure  and  engages 
solely  in  legal  acts,  that  person  is  hard- 
ly susceptible  to  blackmail.    One  cannot 
profitably  threaten  to  broadcast  to  others 
what  is  already  known .    The  effect  of 
Paragraph  100  is  to  force  homosexuals 
into  a  furtive  situation  in  which  they 
might  become  susceptible  to  coercion. 
Thus  Paragraph  100  again  becomes  self- 
defeating  . 

If  "homosexuals  are  special  targets 
for  attention  from  foreign  intelligence 
services"  this  is  evidently  due  to  the 
threat  of  dismissal  from  employment,  a 
situation  which  could  be  greatly  Impro- 
ved by  a  more  open  policy  on  the  part 
of  the  government. 

We  suspect  that  in  this  report,  despite 
tile  supposed  magnitude  of  case  histor- 
ies, homosexuals  were  specdically  noted 
simply  because  Ulcy  represent  a  dl 
uishable  minority  divorced  from  the  so- 
cial existence  of  the  writers  of  the  Re- 
port,   While  the  authors  were  aware  ol 
the  majority's  DOtcntial  for  adultery, 
homosexuality  appeared  to  them  CO  bj 

.  potential  and  therefon  oni 
could  be  mentioned  v.  idiout  Indicting  loo 
large  a  portion  of  the  population.    The 
result  is  that  homosexuals  have  been 


WE 


used  as  scapegoats,  while  the  issue  ot 
each  individual's  ethical  conduct  has 
been  ignored. 

As  stated  in  Paragraph  100,  "each 
case  must  be  judged  in  the  light  of  .ill 
its  circumstances"  for  all  levels  of 
government  employment,  regardless  of 
sexuality,    individuals  should  be  accep- 
ted or  rejected  on  their  own  merits, 
their  personal  integrity,  their  stability 
and  their  professional  capabilities,  and 
not  barred  from  promotion  solely  on  the 
ground  of  a  minority  status  be  it  colour, 
race,  creed,  sen  01  sexuality. 

,,.,,  ,.,.,  Ti,  mo  of  die  Repon  oJ  h», 
Royal  Commission  on  Security  read 

The  question  of  homosexuality    -  a 

tri  a,  i    peel  ill^    i    social 

mores  1 1 [e     [1  Li  a  Fa<  t,  demon- 

■u  it  d  b)  .i  La rgi   numl : 

histories,  that  homosi  m  J     an 
■ 
;.  ,    servlt  es     What 

si  ■■<■ 

evide hat  certain  types  of  homo- 


sexuals are  more  readily  compromi- 
sed than  non -deviate  persons. 
However,  we  feel  that  each  case  must 
be  judged  in  the  light  of  all  its  circum- 
stances, including  such  factors  as 
the  stability  of  the  relationship,  the 
recency  of  the  incidents,  the  public  or 
private  character  of  the  acts,  the 
incidence  of  arrests  or  convictions, 
and  the  effect  of  any  rehabilitative 
efforts.    In  general,  we  do  not  think 
that  past  homosexual  acts  or  even 
current  stable  homosexual  relation- 
ships should  always  be  a  bar  to  employ- 
ment with  the  public  service  or  even 
to  low  levels  of  clearance.     We  do 
feel  however  that,  in  the  interest  of 
the  individuals  themselves  as  well  as 
in  the  interest  of  the  state,  homosex- 
uals should  not  normally  be  granted 
clearance  to  higher  levels,  should  not 
be  recruited  if  there  is  a  possibility 
that  they  may  require  such  clearance 
in  the  course  of  their  careers  and 
should  certainly  not  be  posted  to 
sensitive  positions  overseas.) 

6.       The  Divorce  Act  be  amended 

so  as  to  omit  sodomy  and  homo- 
sexual acts  as  grounds  for  divorce; 
moreover  in  divorce  cases  homosexu- 
ality, per  se,  should  not  preclude  the 
equal  right  of  child  custody. 


Whereas  bestiality  and  rape  axe,  in 
all  cases,  offences  under  the  Criminal 
Code,  homosexuality  is  not.    There- 
fore linking  sodomy  and  homosexual 
acts  with  bestiality  and  rape  as 
grounds  for  divorce  is  to  impute  a 
criminal,  unnatural  and  immoral 
nature  to  forms  of  sexuality  which,  in 
themselves,  aie  none  of  the  above. 

We  are  in  agreement  with  enlight- 
ened sociological  opinion  and  legisla- 
tion, such  as  exists  in  England  and 
California,  that  the  concept  of  "fault" 
should  be  removed  from  our  divorce 
legislation.    The  interest  of  the  state 
in  marital  breakdown  should  be  in  prov- 
iding the  necessary  machinery  to 
ensure  that  the  interests  of  all  concern- 
ed parties  are  protected. 

Consistent  with  the  above,  child 
custody,  when  at  issue,  should  be 
decided  on  the  basis  of  the  merits  of 
each  individual  parent  and  what  is  in 
the  best  interest  of  the  child  or  children. 
In  this  regard,  the  homosexuality  of 
the  parent  in  itself,  is  not  sufficient 
grounds  for  determining  the  adequacy 
of  that  parent,  qua  parent. 
7  The  right  of  homosexuals  to 

serve  in  the  Armed  Forces,  and 
therefore  the  removal  of  provisions 

for  convictinp  service  personnel  oj 

conduct  and/or^ctsjegai  under  the — 
Criminal  Code;  further  the  rescinding 
of  policy  statements  reflecting  on  the 
homosexual . 


DEMAND 


Given  the  fact  that  Section  149  (a) 
(1)  of  the  Criminal  Code  makes  homo- 
sexual acts  between  consenting  adults, 
in  private,  legal,  it  seems  anomalous 
that  Note  (c)  of  Queen's  Regulations  and 
Orders  (103.25;  "Scandalous  Conduct 
by  Officers")  and  Note  (b)  of  103.26 
("Cruel  or  Disgraceful  Conduct")  both 
suggest  that  these  above  sexual  acts 
may  be  considered  punishable  offences 
in  the  military.    Thus,  this  effectively 
contravenes  Section  149  (a)  (1)  ol  th< 
Criminal  Code,  and,  thereby,  the 
principal  diat  military  law  should  be 
subordinate  to  civil  law. 

Paragraph  6  of  Canadian  Forces 
Administrative  Order  19-20  ("Sexual 
Deviation-Investigation,  Medical  Exam- 
ination, and  Disposal")  reads:   Service 
policy  does  not  allow  retention  of 
sexual  deviates  in  the  Forces."    This 
is  conjoined  with  Queen's  Regulations 
and  Orders  103. 2S  and  103.26  (see 
above)  so  as  to  specify  the  manner  of 
discharging  persons  convicted  of  homo- 
sexual acts  while  in  military  service. 


Again,  the  mere  fact  of  one's  sexuality 
should  be  no  more  a  basis  for  determin- 
ing the  suitability  of  military  personnel 
than  it  should  for  civilian  employees. 
We  do  not  accept  the  argument  that  the 
military  is  exempt  from  Section  149  (a) 
(1)  of  the  Criminal  Code  due  to  the 
supposed  susceptibility  of  homosexuals 
to  breeches  of  security  through  black- 
mail anymore  than  we  accepted  the 
reasoning  of  the  Royal  Commission  on 
Security,  Paragraph  100  (cf.  the  ration- 
ale for  demand  number  five). 

8.       To  know  if  it  is  a  policy  of  the 

Royal  Canadian  Mounted  Police 
to  identify  homosexuals  within  any  area 
of  government  service  and  then  question 
them  concerning  their  sexuality  and  the 
sexuality  of  odiers;  and  if  this  is  the 
policy  wi-  demand  us  immediate  cessa- 
tion and  destruction  of  all  records  so 
obtained. 

While  this  demand  stands  by  itself 
we  offer  in  support  the  following: 

The  University  of  Toronto  Homophile 
Association  on  January  13,  1971,  wrote 
to  the  Off  ice  of  the  Solicitor  General 
inquiring  as  to  whether  the  Royal  Cana- 
dian Mounted  Police  engages  in  identify- 
ing and  questioning  homosexuals  in 
government  positions.    To  date,  no 
reply  has  been  forthcoming. 

Identifying  and/or  questioning  indi- 
visuals  on  the  basis  of  their  sexuality 
is  both  irrelevant  and  inconsistent 
with  the  spirit  of  Section  149  (a)  (1)  of 
the  Criminal  Code.    Moreover,  we  view 
such  a  practice  as  an  inherent  breach 
of  the  CANADIAN  BU.L  OF  RIGHTS, 
Part  1,  Section  1  (b):  "The "right  of  the 
individual  to  equality  before  the  law  and 
the  protection  of  the  law"  . 

9.       All  legal  rights  for  homosexuals 
which  currently  exist  for  heter- 
osexuals. 


Although  numerous  instances  of  the 
injustices  and  discrimination  embodied 
by  this  demand  could  be  cited,  the 
following  are  indicative  of  the  inequities 
with  which  homosexuals  must  contend. 

(1)  because  homosexuals  cannot  legal- 
ly marry,  they  face  economic  discrimi- 
nation in  that  die  benefits  of  filing 
joint  income  tax  returns  and  conferring 
pension  rights  axe  denied  to  them; 

(2)  likewise  homosexuals  are  unable 
to  partake  of  die  benefits  of  public 

I     housing; 

(3)  they  are  brought  up  under  an  edu- 
cation system  which  cither  through 
commission  or  ommisslon  fosters  both 
a  narrow  and  prejudicial  view  of  homo- 
sexuality; 

(4)  again  owing  to  the  fact  that  homo- 
sexuals cannot  enter  into  legally  recog- 
nized marriages,  they  are  not  permitted 
to  adopt  children  except  under  the  most 
unusual  circumstances.    (Although  we 
recognize  that  adoption  is  an  area  of 
provincial  jurisdiction,  we  feel  that 
this  does  not  completely  remove  all 
responsibility  from  the  federal  govern- 
ment); 

(5)  too  often  in  the  private  sector,  once 
an  individual's  homosexuality  has  be- 


The  Body  Politic    7 

come  known,  he  or  she  is  discriminated 
against  in  employment,  and  exploited  by 
unscrupulous  landlords; 

(6)  in  known  places  frequented  by  homo- 
sexuals or  in  places  where  they  gather, 
both  direct  and  subtle  harrassment  by 
police  officers  is  too  often  commonplace; 

(7)  since  sexuality  is  not  covered  under 
the  Canadian  Bill  of  Rights,  homosexuals 
are  excluded  from  protections  which  are 
guaranteed  to  other  minority  groups  such 
as  those  of  race,  religion,  or  national 
origin. 

Whde  the  list  could  go  on    (for  exam- 
ple, the  condition  of  homosexuals  in 
prisons)  the  point  should  be  by  now  suf- 
ficiently clear  that,  as  a  group,  homo- 
sexuals are  "second  class  citizens"  in  a 
democratic  society  which  purports  to 
recognize  only  one  class  of  citizenship 
basen  on  equality. 

10.    All  public  officials  and  law  enforce- 
ment agents  to  employ  the  full  force 
of  their  office  to  bring  about  changes  in 
the  negative  attitudes  and  de  facto  ex- 
pressions of  discrimination  and  preju- 
dice against  homosexuals . 

In  a  democratic  society,  sexuality  is 
no  more  a  reason  for  discrimination 
than  is  race,  color,  national  origin,  re- 
ligion, or  sex. 

As  a  minority  group,  homosexuals 
are  deserving,  in  terms  of  the  demo- 
cratic principal  of  majority  rule  and 
minority  rights,  of  government  protec- 
tion from  discrimination  arising  from 
social  prijudices  as  are  other  minority 
groups . 

Laws  are  effective  not  only  due  to 
their  abUity  to  be  enforced  but  because 
they  are  consistent  with  the  principles 
upon  which  the  political  system  is  foun- 
ded. Thus  bad  laws  which  are  derived 
not  from  a  principle  of  harm  or  injury 
but  from  ignorance  and/or  prejudice 
are  detrimental  to  a  whole  system  of 
laws  founded  upon  the  basis  of  ju  -bee, 
fairness  and  equality. 
In  line  with  the  above,  the  role  of  pub- 
lic officials  must  be  twofold: 

(1)  to  serve  as  legislators  formula- 
ting die  letter  of  the  law,  and 

(2)  to  .serve  as  representatives  of 
the  spirit  of  a  system  founded  upon 
democratic  principles.  As  such, hold- 
ers of  public  office  must  transcend 
prejudicial  attutudes  (in  this  case 
against  homosexuals)  in  favour  of 
leading  society  to  levels  consistent 
with  the  principles  of  human  rights. 

We  therefore  call  upon  all  government 
officials  to  publicly  support  an  amend- 
ment to  Part  1  Section  1  of  the  Canadian 
Bill  of  Rights  so  as  to  read: 

"it  is  hereby  recognized  and  declared 
that  here  in  Canada  there  have  existed 
and   shall  continue  to  exist  without 
discrimination  by  reason  of  race,  na- 
tional origin,  colour,  religion,  sex 
or    sexuality,  the  following  human 
rights  and  fundamental  freedoms, 
namely  ..." 

We  also  call  upon  government  officials 
as  a  show  of  good  faith,  to  enter  immed- 
iately into  a  dialogue  with  the  various 
Canadian  homophile  groups  regarding  all 
the  aforementioned  demands  and  to  pub- 
licly respond  by  supporting  the  purpose  of 
this  brief. 


The  Body  Politic 


THE= 
POWER 
_OF_ 


Gay  Liberation  will  succeed  wh< 
slop  apologizing  tor  our  sexual  It)       ro 
end  this  shit-head  type  ol  thinking  wc 
need  positive  action.    Peoph  will  do 
things  when  moved  by  forceful  confront 
ation,  but  not  when  we  plead  foi    u 
anc«  .    The  very  fact  that  we,  as  a  min- 
ority, feel  obliged  to  act  nlce(  b<  ac- 
commodating and  not  aggravate  tin 
straights  who  dominate  this  society,  is 
the  basis  of  our  oppression. 

Our  rights  as  homosexuals  are  cont- 
inuing to  be  negated  while  the  politicians 
are  content  to  toy  with  the  age  of  consent, 
which  "merely  brings  the  law  into  line 
with  police  practice",  as  Charles  Hill 
wryly  commented  during  the  Gay  Rally 
held  in  Ottawa.    Our  laws,  the  politicians 
charge,   reflect  public  opinion;  until  it's 
changed  there  can't  be  any  real  reform . 
And  the  Federal  Government  of  Canada 
supported  this  viewport  when  It   n 
to  accept  our  Ottawa  Brief,  outlining 
discriminatory  practices  against  hi 
sexuals! 


Attacks  on  this  syndrom)   taki   thi 
form  "i  "zaps" .  This  is  direct  confi  oni 

.ii [on  » ith  Btralghtc  Lo  thel i  I tei 

ritory .  For  gays  this  i  la  rll  tea  our  op- 

! ■  ■■ hei  and  rea    ien    

■  ii  ii'  i to  aboJ  i  ii  .'ii   ii  ■  cOli  ■ 

1 1 1  t  >  ,   bai     api  ,  orn   eacl    it  the  Coi 

ii>i ..    ravern,  (a  v  o:  \  Lnp  ■  la  a  pub) 

thi  i  '".'i  Bin  (a   ■■■■.  inj  Ing     Lngli      pl<  I    up 

bar)  and  thi    Prei   el  Bell, (i V  i  i 

I    ■  ■  Li  i   pat  - 

ound    ■■(■ii  mi  s,  the 

■    ■       inci   to  th<  Ih i   ii 

niein  proi  i'ii  ii  i"i  ii"  clh  nt»  i •"  h 

pub  a  i  'I"   stra  Ight  i  did     i  hi  n  a  bo 

.'i  '.■■■  nil.:  in  ih  M  ih  e  and  Inform 
us  thai  we  wen  leaving  .   1 1 u   Feebli   bx 
cuse  used  m  each  case  was  that  thi  man- 
agement had  received  complaints  about 
us  from  up-tight  pussy-freaks.  So  of 
course,  we  were  accused  of  causing  a 

disturbance!  Our  verj  presenci   bo  un- 
til rvi  ii  the  atralghts1  sexual  tdentitii 
that  frustration  and  angel  wen  their 
immediate  response. 


And  they  think  we're  all  fucked -up1 

Potential  violence  had  awakened  the 
dormant  hostilities  of  all  the  voyeurs  ui 
the  tavern.  The  Ontario  Human  RJ 
i  mi.  has  proudly  declared  that, 

.ii  is  tree  and  equal  In  dignity  and 
i,  co- 
lour,nationality,  aiiv  .,  ...  of 


anywhere, 
anytime 


hi  urn ."  But  what  about  sea 

Should  people  be  denied  proti  i  tion  be- 

cuust  of  their  in.   '    i  i:i   I 


As  Canadians  we  have  every  right  to 
do  whatever  straight  citizens  are  allowed 
to  do.  However,  centuries  of  persecu- 
tion and  imprisonment  in  gay  ghettos,  if 
not  penitentiaries,  have  eroded  those 
rights  away.  Permission  to  leave  these 
confines  has  only  been  granted  on  the 
conditions  that  we  deny  ourselves  and 
blend  in  with  the  Straight  Monolith.  Peo- 
ple won't  have  human  rights  unless  they 
believe  in  mem  and  the  assurance  of 
these  rights  is  only  confirmed  be  prac- 
tice.   The  key  to  our  freedom  then, 
isn't  begging  for  tolerance,  but  living 
our  full  rights.  Otherwise,  we  slip  back 
into  the  comfortable  easy-chair  of  frus- 
trated liberality. 

Now  for  that  genuine  action!  In  the  To- 
ronto area,  gay  activists  have  organ- 
ized consciousness-raising  groups  as 
the  first  step  in  a  program  of  Gay  Pride. 
Stressing  interpersonal  relationships 
and  attempting  to  shed  imposed  hangups, 
the  groups  hope  to  foster  an  awarenesa 
of  trust  and  self-confidence.  This  soli- 
darity unites  male  and  female  homosex- 
uals and  strengthens  the  common  front 
against  the  Straight  Syndrome. 


We  were  pushed,  kicked  and  forcibly 
thrown  out!  What  we  accomplished 
though,  was  far  more  significant.  In  a 

i,  dial  congratulates  itself  on  being 
"free"  and  "open",  people  who  don't 
conform  to  the  stereotype  moulds  of 
behaviour  are  relegated  to  the  sewers 
of  that  society, like  rats  and  debris  .The 
straight  concept  of  "normal"  sexuality, 
namely  that  people  are  puppets  manipu- 
Lated  by  their  genitals, categorically  re- 
ruses  to  acknowledge  any  possibility  of 
ibvi    and  respect  between  people  of  the 
same  sex. 


Our  fourth  campaign  was  ,,  Sal urday  aft- 
ernoon stroll  down  Yon^i    St  i  ei  :l  CO  thi 
City  Hall  and  back  up  again,  holding 

hands  in  couples.    Along  ti I 

some  gays,   but  they  Bhled  away  tor 

i.  1 1  0f  a  jsoi  lal  ion  with  I  ags  In  Pub!  ti  . 
Later  we  would  see  them  in  thi    bOJ 
where  they  weren't  air  tld  to 

lighi  react  ion  to 

■  me  of  wide-eyed  dlsbel  lei  -  To 

uch  things  happ 
Toronto  were  incredible. 


THE  REAL 


AND 


EXOTIC 


News  spread  .rapidly  in  the  gay  ghetto 
about  the  exploits  of  the  underground 
groups,  delighting  some,  intimidating 
many  more.  Our  oppression  has  been  so 
long  and  so  well  ingrained  that  it's  al- 
most impossible  for  manygays  to  believe 
themselves  human,  with  equal  rights, 
instead,  moderates  arc-  ready  to  embrace 
liberal  straights  as  loitg-losi 
and  together,  begin  the  integratioi 
ciety.  AH  that  we  homosexuals  must  do 
is  reason  with  them,  reassuring  them 
that  underneath  it  all,  we're  just  like 
THEM- -NEUROTIC  Pi 


The  psychology  of  the  oppressed  is 
rooted  in  fear  of  disobeying  some  forbid- 
den code,  which  has  been  entrenched  in 
their  minds  by  punishment  or  threats  of 
retaliation.  If  we  restrict  ourselves 
just  to  talking,  without  any  positive  ac- 
tion to  fortify  the  movement  and  magnify 
the  issues,  then  all  our  energies  will  be 
siphoned  off  into  a  quagmire  of  enlight- 
ened discussions,  informative  seminars 
and  in-depth  reports  on  today's  pressing 
social  problems. 


zapping 


"A  true  community, "as  Valeria  Solanas 
dj    ■  rlbea  In  iheS.c.U.M,  Manifesto, 

"consists  of  individuals—not  mere  BpeK  Lefl 
members.not  couples- -respecting  each 
other's  individuality  and  privacy,  at  the 
same  time  interacting  with  each  mental- 
ly and  emotionally--free  spirits  in  free 
relation  to  each  other  and  co-operating 
wlUi  each  other  to  achieve  coniui  <n  ends 
Traditionalists  say  the  basic  unit  oJ 
society  is  the  "family";  hippies  Bay  the 
"tribe";  no  one  says  the  individual." 


find 
,  a,new 
freedom 


At  the  moment,  Gay  Power  remains  a 
slogan  scribbled  on  lavatory  walls.  Take 
it  off  these  walls  and  give  it  meaning? 


BART  MONCQ-RADICAL  PERVERT 


O 


GMDWWBW 


The  Body  Politic    9 


TORONTO    CIVILIAN  PARK  PATROL 


by  Rom  bus  Hube 


.ill 


Philosopher's  Walk  is  a  pleasant  cal 
xee  pedestrian  way  between  Queen's 
park  and  Moor  St.     For  three  or  four 
weeks  this  September  the  safety  of  its 
users  was  guaranteed  by  the  diligent 
torts  "i  four  ivpes  ill  patroliers,  the 

ForontO  regular  police,   who  s''"'  "1J 

the  walk  was  under  the"    jui  iselie  I'"" 

ie  Toronto  Molality  Squad,   cleverl) 

-gen-ed  as  greasei  >|  and  ""  ■    The 

iputationol  philosopher's  walk  as  a 

ij  lot  er's  lane-,  ephemera]  ai  the  b, 
,,,  nm.  -.  suffered  a  decline  under  du 

walehlul  eyes  of  SO  many pe-ling  6 

■s.    Not  only  did  vcrj  few  people  ma 

I  there  during  tile  m Ii  "I  Seplen 

,  one  got  arrested  either;  and  that  w.i 
,  reason  for  my  presence,  and  hope 

ully  the  result  of  It. 

On  the  last  night  of  August;  a  Mondi    . 
wltni  --id.  not  for  the  first  nine,  an 

resi  in  philosopher's  walk.    It  didn' 
look  iik,  .,,1  arrest,    rhree  young  mei 

,eie  standing,   joking,   on  .,  Wl  II   llghtl 

.idge  when  rwo  oi  them  we,,  lumped 

,  hind  by  two  men.  dressed  e.isi 
Jh.    who  pro  "lb  and  panel' 

itul  throw  the  si. ml.  d  am  Jin  -  down 
.     It  didn'l  look  like  an  an 
lookedlikea  mugging;  and  u  must  have" 
.It,  I  ike  on, 

rom  one  oi  die  ii.tmo.    Alter  i  night 

po>icc  station  -->,  du  two  at  i 
pleaded  gudiy  to  gn>-s  indecency;  a 

which  there  was  no  w 

Ol  the  accused  ana 
the  he-  Of  the  pol'CC.     "  wasn't  the  lirsi 
line  I'd  seen  such  an  excuse  for  justice  . 
it  It  was  die  last.    I  decided  that  the 
.jplc  who  walk  there  they  can  be  prey 
of  licensed  muggers  should  be  warnee  . 
With  the  knowledge  and  assistance  of 
.ie  Community  HoniophUe  Association 
if  Toronto,  I  began  patrolling  Philosop- 
icr's  Walk,  with  a  flashligli,  from  11 
."ill.  to  2  a.m.  every  night  from  trie- 
rs! of  September .    Rainy  nights  and 
eckends,   when  arrests  were  unlikely 
occur  1  stayed  away,  but  for  more 
,ian  three  weeks,   sometime  s  alone, 
i..,iii,  inn,  -  with  a  friend  or  two,  I  check 
d  on  everything  that  happened  between 
iloorandHoskin.  Trinity  and  the  Museum  . 

ie  fust  night  and  a  lew  limes  aflcr- 
'ards,  I  ran  into  members  of  the  regul  - 

r   police.    Thcv  we  ic.heeklllglol  dlllllk- 

inlv,  but  stopped  lot  long  enough  to 

,1k  about  what  I  was  doing.  They  seem 

,i  t,,  tinel  that  some  gay  p<  i 

me.  would  walk  around  for  hours 

cry  night  with  a  flashlight  Hying  to 

, ,  . , ,,,  ,,,i,,,  gay  people  i  rom  belno 

After  answering  questions  about 
vhul  it  was  like  to  ho  gay  ("I  gel  hard 
vhen  I  see  a  naked  man,  you  gel  hartl 
when  you  see  a  nuked  woman;  the  im 
,1s,    Is  die  same  only  the  ObjBCt  dll 
rent")  they  agreed  dial  it  didn'l  make 
Ltnse  to  send  plain  clothes  cops  lurk- 
ing about  the  bushes  if  you  wanted  to 
prevent  gay  people  from  using  the  area 
for  cruising,  stitee  lite  gay  people,  es- 
pecially if  they  were  drunk  might  finel 
one  of  the  police  interesting,  and  be 
led  to  make  an  indecent  advance,  or 
else  think  it  was  all  right  to  make  oul 
with  someone  else.  If  it  looked  like 
everyone  was  there  for  the  same  pur- 
pose.   Except  for  this  one  long  con- 
-crsatlon,  the  regular  police  were  in 
the  area  for  about  half  an  hour  in  the 


close  to  a  hundred  hours  1  pattrolled 
the  Walk.    So  much  for  police  pro- 
tection . 

A  majority  of  the  cruisers  that  I 
warned  in  that  time  were  receptive 
and  didn't  seem  lo  be  aware  that  they 
were  in  any  danger  from  either  sport- 
ing stratghlles  or  morality  thugs. 
Most  of  diem  were  under  the  illusion 
d, at  they  could  only  be  arrested  il 
they  were  lining  some-lltuig  illegal,   and 

probably  remained  unconvinced.    After 

the  first  week  in  so  I  stopped  using 
tile  flashlight,   il  was  turning  some  of 
them  on.  anil  just  went  about  with  ('. . 
II. A. T.  cards  saying   "When  you're 
arrested,  give  us  a  call;  and  don't  just 
pit  .id  guilly  until  you've  talked  to  a 

lawyer."   A  minority  of  people  stUl 

refused  to  believe  dial  I  was  doing  any- 
thing except  giatilying  my  voyeunsl- 
Ic  fantasies,  but  the  action  declined 
enoggh  to  enable  us  lo  keep  an  eye  on 

enough  lo  enable  us  to  keep  an  eye  on 
the  entire  situation,  and  when  the 

II  happened  twice.    The  same  two 
who  had  been  successful  before  re- 
lumed on  the  following  Wednesday  and 
again  the  week  after.    The  first  time 
the  Walk  was  crowded  but  a  friend  was 
with  me  and  we  passed  out  dance  flyers 
and  information  until  no  one  was  left 

in  me  area  except  rwo  cops,  two 
strangers  and  us.    The  other  hopped  the 
fence  and  left.  I  was  worried,  but  there 
was  no  arresl  on  the  books  the  nest  day. 
A  week  later,  1  was  alone  patrolling, 
and  the  same  tvo  were  stalking  someone 
in  a  dark  corner,  waiting  for  a  second 
person  so  mat  they  could  piaXe  the  trad- 
itional double  arrest.    I  warned  him, 
and  left  as  fast  as  I  could;  after  all.  I 
was  no  stranger  to  the  police  this  time; 
and  they  left  empty  handed .    They  were 
beginning  to  feel  the  frustration  of  not 
making  out  on  the  meat  rack,  but  I 
don't  think  it  was  teaching  them  com- 
passion. The  weather  turned  bad,  and 
1  don't  know  whether  there  was  a  return 
attempt.'  but  there  were  no  arrests. 
Since  this  little  episode  there  hu*e 
been  meetings  between  the  DirectOl 
of  C.H.A.T.  and  representatives  of 
the  Metro  Police.    The  basic  concept 
that  homosexuals  are  criminals  .nut 
any  attempt  to  trap  and  arrest  them  is 
justifiable  seems  to  be  declining.    The. 
situation  where  gay  people  were  being 
.,,  rested  „n  du  evldenci  ,'i  single  im- 
plicated police,  and  found  automatical- 
ly guilty,   has  almosl  slopped.     But 
maybe  its  just  the  weather.    There  is 
no  legal  guarantee  thai  the  police  umn'i 

decide  to  declare  open  season  on  homo- 
sexuals m  the  future.    There  are  -"" 
plenty  of  laws  arouinl  Which  can  be 
used  agalnsl  us.     Tile-  only  delence 

against  this  sort  of  thing  is  vigilance 
and  communication,    Every  gay  person 
who  sees  anything  polentiallydangerout. 
for  the  people  involved  will  ha  c  to  Ix 
responsible,  for  tire donseaueucc* .  And 
silence  Is  our  greatest  enemy.    Any 
evidence  of  police  intimidation  or  fail- 
ure to  respond  to  the  rights  of  gay  cit- 
izens for  protection  must  be  commun- 
icated to  other  gay  people,  preferably 
through  the  various  Homophde  organ- 
izations.   We  have  both  allies  and  en- 
emies within  the  police  departments 


and  die  legal  authorities,  this  has  been 
amply  shown  by  the  events  of  the  past 
year.    Each  gay  individual  who  refused 
to  be  intimidated  increases  the  chances 
of  others  to  a  fair  deal  in  this  society 
where  sexuality  is  stdl  looked  upon  as  • 
a  strange  and  fearful  subject  by  straight 
and  gav  alike.    Perhaps  when  we  have 
liberated  both  the  homosexual  and  the_ 
heterosexuals  from  their  fear  and  guilt 
in  respect  to  one  another,  there  won't 
be  any  need  for  Homophile  Organizations 
or  Morality  Squads.  Meanwhile  working 
for  human  liberation,  even  if  it  only 
means  carrying  a  flashlight  on  Phd- 
osopher's  walk.  Will  be  necessary. 


club  integration 


A  discussion  at  one  of  the  Gay  Woman' 
meetings  resulted  in  the  idea  of  making 
a  proposal,  which  would  be  presented  to 
the  owners  of  all  the  gay  clubs . 

This  proposal  was  brought  to  a  C.H. 
A.T.  meeting  where  it  was  received  well. 
it  was  decided  to  have  the  proposal  sign- 
ed by  members  of  the  Cay  Community. 

The  proposal  reads; 

To  whom  it  may  concern: 

We  the  undersigned  feel  that  it  is  now 
lime  to  i  id  the  "Gay  Social  Scene"  of  sex 
or  sexual  discrimination  on  the  grounds 
of  sex  or  sexual  pieference.    In  the  past 
there  have  been  gestures  towards  this 
goal  but  they  have  not  been  adequate. 

"A  person  should  have  the  right  to  enter 
any  place  of  entertainment  on  any  night  th 
that  it  is  open  without  restrictions",  e.g. 
paying  double  or  having  to  be  accompanied 
by  another  person. 

We  therefor  propose  that  your  club  be 
integrated  on  either  a  Friday  or  Saturdax 
night,  to  start  with. 

This  proposal  will  be  presented  for 
si  -natures  to  the  Gay  community  at  die 
c"h  A  T.  meeting  on  the  26th  of  October 
and  mailed  to  all  clubs  by  the  30th  of  Oct- 
ober. 

Pat  Murphy 


JcM   Uto.lUH.SrO   R&iw>?HiL£   dssoc 

DMVLCE 
fill   klo\i  ii       gpnt  -  ift.m_ 

TklE  TEldftCE  flm.  -  GUEMOM  H.ftLL 
BKlllltUL   *  LAIU.H6MX.E. 


LCNDON,  CNT. 

University  of  Western  Otario 
Homophile  Association 
Meetings  Mondays,  8  p.m. 
Graduate  Lounge,  Somervule  Housi 


KITCHENER  -  WATERLOO 

Waterloo.Universities 
Gay  Liberation  Movement 
Meetings  -  Mondays   8  p.m. 
Humanities  Room  161 


Montreal 

Front  de  Liberation  des  Homosexuel 
(Georges)   843-4792 

Lique  des  Droits  de  l'Homme 
3411  rue  St.  Denis 
phone  -  844-2815 

Front  de  Liberation  des  Femmes 
phone  -  844-5838 

Free  Youth  Clinic 
3658  rue  Ste.  Famille 
phone  -  843-7885 


Mainmise 
351  rue  Emery 
phone  -  843-4792 


HNIUtlSlTY  t*  UKSftfoL  WMib  HfMWltf  KiX 


4*m 

11  )L 


JQUiAyW  »isiv 
ftfnx.         Riiw'biuirv. 


toot^    lo>59 


1,1*5    loss 

tllAriiF.Ltu,     UcWi  CWcL  -  UtyLa 
Sri*.      rVA.»»>.'.«W    1IW 

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"br    f.t.      C-ftrt\EUy 

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OfcfenNllVrloN     ^ufea.UI4En       kj~  ~      "  " 

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LorwLh     It,    DkV* 


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VANCOUVER 

Gay  Alliance  Toward  Equality 
105  -  1131  Richard  St. 
Meetings  -  Mondays  8  p.m. 
Phones  -  687-8048,  687-6302 

Gay  Sisters  -738-5379 

Canadian  Gay  Activists  Alliance 

-  685-4850 

Gay  Liberation  Front 
P.O.  Box  15,  Station  A 
738-5379   6-10  p.m. 

Women's  Centre 

511  Carrall     684-3535 

People's  Defense  Fund 

-  733-3165 

Legal  Aid  Clinics  -  872-027] 

Young  Socialists  -  688-5924 

Free  Clinic 

1952  W.  4th  -  731-6929 


GUELPH.  ONT. 

University  of  Guelph  Homophile  Association 
Meetings;    Thursday  Evenings,  8.  p.m. 
3rd  Floor,  Arts  Building 
Place  Changes 


WOMENS'  GROUP  MEETING 
Held  every  second  Wednesday  .Next 
meeting  is  on  November  3. For  further 
information  call  C.H. A. T.  at  964-0653. 


C.H.A.T. 
DANCE 


alternate  fridavs 
nextnov.  5;  9  p.m. 

HOLY  TRINITY  CHURCH 

GOOD  MUSIC 

COME  OUT  AND  SUPPORT 

YOUR  ORGANIZATION! 


ZV  PAGE 


x  E 

M  •— 


TORONTO 

Toronto  Gay  Action  (T.G.A.) 
201  Queen  Street  East 
Meetings:   Sundays,  8  p.m. 
Phones:  Brian  368-1524;  David  920-8374; 
Jearld  922-2624;  Herb  920-6576; 
Paul  247-1530 

Community  Homophile  Association  of  Toronto  (C.H.A.T.) 
6  Charles  Street  East 

phone  -  964-0653  {24  hour  answering  service) 
Meetings  -  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity 

Alternate  Tuesdays  (November  9),  8  p.m. 
Dances  -  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity 

Alternate  Fridays  (November  5),  9.  p.m. 

University  of  Toronto  Homophile  Association  (U.T.H.A.) 
S.A.C.  Building,  Hart  House  Circle,  U.of  T. 
phone  -  Charles  Hill.  904-1918 
Meetings  -  Graduate  Students  Union,  Wednesdays,  8  p.m. 
16  Bancroft  Street 

York  University  Homophile  Association 
Rm .  N105  -  Ross  Humanities  Building 
Meetings:    alternate  Tuesdays  -  Social  Debates  Rm  . 
McLaughlin  College,  8  p.m. 


O 

E 


Free  Clinic 

Rochclinic 

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Legal  Aid 

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Community  Switchboard 


252  Dupont. Street 

Rochdale  -  Bloor  &  Huron  -  924-8892 

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863-0275 


INTERNATIONAL  PEACE  DAY 

ANY  GROUP  OR  ORGANIZATION 

who  support  the  aims  of  Gay 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  6 

Liberation  and  wish  to  be  listed 

Queens  Park     -    Toronto,  Ont. 

on  this  page  -  write  to;     Community  Page 

2  p.m. 

c/o  The  Body  Politic 

One  of  many  regional  Mass 

65  Kendall  Avenue,  Apt 

Demonstrations  Across  North 

Toronto  4,  Ontario 

America 

GAYS-Come  out  against  the  War 

12  The  Doily  Ml* 


1II11ICE   a   say  novet 


This  is  supposed  to  he  a  review 
of  Maurice,    E.M.    Forster's   nos- 
thumous   novel   regarding  homosexual 
love. 

I   hope  to  cover  the  basic  plot 
of  the  novel   in  such  a  way  that  it 
relates   to  gay   liberation  and   the 
way  gay  activists  relate  to  other 
gay  people.     As  a   pre-World  War   I 
novel    it's  somewhat  difficult  to 
get     into  contemporary  society 
and  the  current  oav  scene  since 
hoth  are  sianificantly  different. 
Nevertheless,    I   think   there   is  more 
significance  in  Maurice     than  that 
it  is,   compared  with  other  nay 
novels,  a  pretty  good  oiece  of  fic- 
tion dealing  with  homosexual  it  v. 

The  significance  for  the  nay 
activist  is  not  to  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  Maurice  is,  as  is  so  in- 
frequent, a  novel   that  entails  a 
happy  ending  for  the  gays.     Although 
it's  interesting  to  note  that  in 
Forster's   time   (the  novel   was  writ- 
ten between  1913  -  15)  to  write 
fiction  in  which  a  crime  is  commit- 
ed  and  the  offenders  are  not  ap- 
rehended  and  convicted  was  bold 
and  daring,  even  more  so  given  the 
fact  that  U  was  the  unsoeakable 
offense     i    "sexual   deviation".   Be- 
cause of  this  Forster  decided  that 
while  suitable  for  publication,   the 
novel  was  not  worth  risking  the  ire 
of  an  aroused  English  society,   in 
many  ways  still   Victorian.     It  thus 
remained  in  the  closet  for  over 
fifty  years. 

Aesthetically,  the  novel    is  med- 
iocre.    The  prose  is  somewhat  tur- 
gid, the  pace  too  slow  and  some  of 
the  situations  are  a  bit  contrived. 
But  the  characters  emerge  as  real 
and  live,  and  it  is  the  type  of 
characters  portrayed  which  sticks 
in  my  mind  on  a  topic  of  interest 
to  gay  activists. 

Maurice,   for  whom  the  novel    is 
named,  and  "its  principal  gay,  is  a 
product  of  upper  middle-class  Eng- 
lish society.     Educated  at  private 
schools  and  polished  at  Cambridge, 
he  has  this  "thing"  in  him  which  he 
does  not  understand  until  he  meets 
Clive,  likewise  upper  middle-class 
but  sexually  precocious  and  steeped 
in  the  classics.     Clive's  understa- 
nding of  homosexuality  is  in  terms 
of  the  beauty  of  a  "platonic  re- 
lationship" between  two  men.     Maur- 
ice, however,  after  trials  and  tri- 
bulations with  his  own  and  Clive's 
sexuality  (Clive  supposedly  goes 
straight},  forsakes  the  strictures 
(along  with  the  goodies)  of  his 
society  to  live  in  the  greenwoods 
with  Alec,  also  Middle-class,  but, 
by  unexplained  circumstances,  a 
humble  gamekeeper  on  Clive's  de- 
caying estate.     Throuqh  Alec,  Maur- 
ice finally  discovers  the  inherent 
worth  of  his  sexuality  by  moving 
beyond  the  "platonic  relationship" 
begun  with  Clive  to  the  beauty  and 
pleasure  of  physical  sex. 

Maurice  is  solidly  middle-class 
(after  all,  a  Cambridge  man  is  a 
pillar  of  society),  yet  the  values 
of  his  society  preclude  his  living 
as  an  integrated  and  autonomous 
person  since  it  denies  the  validity 
of  his  sexuality.     In  his  struggle 


to  "come  out",  he  fails,  at  first, 
to  correlate  his  sexual  oppression 
with  the  political,  moral,  cultural 
and  social   nature  of  bourgeois  psy- 
chology which  condemns  thinking  and 
talking  about  physical    sex  as  both 
sinful  and  base.     Thus,  Maurice, 
while  always  aware  of  its  existence, 
suppresses  his  homosexuality. 

Many  of  us,  as  gays,  have  been  in 
the  same  headspace  as  Maurice:     long- 
ing,  lonely,  and  scared.     Many  gays 
are  still   there  -  afraid  to  come 
out.     Others  are  out,   but   living   in 
the  oay  ghetto.     To  those  still 
in  the  closet  we  can  only  offer  our 
support,   for  those  in  the  ghetto 
our  response  must  he  different. 

Maurice  had  no  ghetto  to  which 
he  could  escape;   for  him  to  come 
out  was  a  total  question.     There  was 
no  holding  on  to  the  rewards  which 
his  middle-class  existence  offerred, 
and  still   be  gay.     It  was  an  all   or 
nothinq  proposition:   either  his 
sexuality  and  a  life  as  an  whole, 
though  socially  rejected,   human  be- 
ing, or  he  could  live  his  life  as  a 
well   respected,  but  unfullfil led, 
stockbroker.     Maurice  chooses  the 
former  and,   therein,  lies  the  rad- 
ical component  of  Forster's  novel. 
Maurice  does  reject  the  material 
comforts,  the  status,  his  career, 
etc.,   in  order  to  cease  living  his 
life  for  the  approval   of  others  and 
to  accept  and  love  that  which  is  his 
nature.     He  pays  the  price  demanded 
by  a  sexist  society  for  asserting 
his  sexuality:   ostracism. 

But  now  there  is  an  alternative. 
Today,  Maurice  would  not  face  a  com- 
plete either-or  situation.     He  could 
escape  with  his  lover  to  the  confin- 
es of  the  gay  ghetto  replete  with 
its  bars,  clubs  and  steambaths.  And 
who  is  to  say  which  would  he  the 
preferable  social  arrangement  for 
Maurice,  or  more  pertinently,   to- 
day's gays? 

The  point  for  gay  activists,   I 
think,   is  the  following.     We  often 
put  down,  rightly  so  I  think,  gay 
institutions  as  exploitive  and  im- 
personal, but  does  that  demand  a 
similar  judgment  for  the  gays  who 
frequent  these  places? 

These  gay  commercial   establish- 
ments are,    in  the  long  run,   bar- 
riers to  the  cause  of  sexual   liber- 
ation.    They  are  socially  positive 
in  so  far  as  they  seemingly  make 
available,  however  meagerly,   the 
same  services  available  to  straights 
(the  principle  here  is  separate  but 
equal?),  but,   politically  and  cul- 
turally, are  negative  since  they 
force  gays  to  comply  with  contem- 
porary straight  society's  dictum 
regarding  homosexuals:   "out  of 
sight,  out  of  mind."     (is  not  the 
lining  of  Yonge  St.  by  straights 
on  Halloween  night  to  gape  at  local 
"queens"  attributable  to  the  fact 
that  this  rule  has  been  violated?) 
We  have  our  own  spots  because  they 
keep  us  in  our  place  as  any  gay- 
acting  gay  who  has  gone  to  a  stra- 
ight pub  knows!     This  luxury 
was  not  unavailable  to  Maurice;  he 
could  not  compromise  his  sexuality 
that  easily.   It  was  either  his  sex- 


uality or  his* status,   not  hoth. 

To  live  as  a  gay  person  beyond 
the  confines  of  our  ghetto  walls  - 
as  we  would  have  all  gays  do  -   is 
still   no  easy  matter,  as   it  was  no 
easy  matter  for  Maurice.     We  all 
know  the  social   hassles:     families, 
jobs,  friends,  etc.,  etc.     There- 
fore, as  gay  activists  our  onus  is 
both  to  understand  the  heads  of  our 
fellow  gays  and  to  try  to  create  al- 
ternatives.    Unfortunately,  alter- 
natives are  slow  in  coming  since 
they  are  usually  expensive.     But 
to  relate  to  another  gay  as  a  per- 
son whose  sexuality,   like  our  own, 
is  a  basis  for  oppression  exacts  no 
greater  tol 1   than  a  committment  to 
liberation  for  all  oppressed  people. 
And  this  means  getting  into  each 
other. 

If  you  think  you  might  like  to 
get  into  this  book,  here  are  the 
vital   statistics: 

Maurice:    by  E.M.   Forster.     Pub- 
lished by  MacMillan  of  Canada,   1971. 
$6.95. 

-Herb  Spiers 


TOMORROW  IS 
OVER! 


The  Canadian  Mental  Health  Association 
held  a  conference  in  Hamilton  during  the 
weekend  of  October  15.    The  theme  oftte 

conference  was  "Tomorrow  is  Over." 
The  conference  was  attended  by  members 
of  C.M.H.  A. ,  coming  from  all  pans  ol 
Canada  .    The  conference  was  also  attend- 
ed by  three  people  from  C.li.A.T.    - 
Linda  Jain,  Pat  Murphy  and  George  His- 
lop.     Oddly  enough,   these  people  and 
what  they  had  to  say  were  the  "hit"  of 
the  conference. 

The  conference  was  divided  into  four 
main  sections:    die  Family;    Work  & 
Leisure;   Education  and  Community.  The 
C.H.A.T.  delegates  talked  in  the  Famdy 
section  which  Included:  the  traditional 
family,  the  homosexual  famUy,  the  com- 
munal family,   the  single  parent  family, 
and  alternatives  to  child  rearing. 
*     The  presentation  given  by  Linda,  Pat 
dtu\  George  centered  mainly  on  honioscx  • 
ual -COUpled  relationships,   .is  this  WS8 
the  locus  Ol   Hit    Family  group.     During 

the  afternoon, discussion  groups  formed 

in  which  the  main  locus  again  was  on  how 
a  gay  relationship  develops  as  compared 
to  heterosexual  relationships  and  com  - 
mon  goals  and  problems.    On  the  Other 
hand,  much  of  the  discussion  WSJ  ahout 
homosexuality.     For  the  majority  ol  pel 
sons,  u  wai  their  ttrsi  time  to  talk  with 
a  homosexual.  Thsqueattonsaskedwere 

Intelligent  and  quite  sincere.    Many  of 
the  heterosexuals  there  said  they  had 
many  fears  based  on  ignorance.    Event- 
ually they  talked  aboul  their  concepts  of 

human  sexuality  and  how  those  concepts 
were  narrow  and  why.    The  exchange 
was  quite  beneficial  and  many  of  the  C. 
M.H.A.  representatives  asked  to  be  in 
contact  with  C.H.A.T.  for  future  refer- 
rals and  i 'diii. .ii  ■ 

A  personal  observation  was  that  gen- 
erally men  had  more  difficulty  in  under- 
standing homosexuality  and  In  fact  Uieir 
own  sexuality. 

Linda  Jain  &  Pat  Murphy 


The  Body  Politj.  13 


CLOSET  DOOR, 

CLOSET  DOOR, 

YOU  AIN'T  GOT  ME 

ANYMORE! 


i  hei  i  comet    i  I -,  or  should  i  omi 

.t  time,  in  ev<  i  yom  's  i  Ife  wh<  n  thi  j 
look  at  themaell  and  try  to  dec  Ld<    |us( 
what  they  are  and  when  they  art  going. 
if  you  are  ^ay  and  hiding  m  a  cioaet, 
stop  and  ask  yourseli  if  you  feel  fulfilled, 
if  you  feel  proud  of  your  way  of  living, 
if  you  want  to  continue  a  furtive  exist- 
ence for  the  teat  Ol  your  days. 

It  would  be  difficult  if  not  impossible 
to  lisi  ail  the  reasons  why  one  might 
keep  their  sexuality  hidden,  and  by  no 
means  is  it  culpable  for  a  person  to 

for  their  job  or  their  family's  es- 
teem, but  Uk  fact  is  that  things  axe  hap- 
pening all  around  you  Uiat  point  toward 
l;  bi  ttej  i<  lationsblp  between  the 
homophuY  and  the  rest  01  society,  and 
if  you  do  not  come  out  oi  the  closet  and 
see  lor  yourself,  how  will  you  ever 
know  ? 

ii  Is  mon  a  matt*  r  ol  sticking  your 
toe  in  the  water  ami  finding  it  comfort- 
able enough  to  jump  in,  than  it  Ls 
trily  total  commitment  to  an  ... 

way  of  life.   First  give  yourself  thi 
portunity  to  exp  i  fence  the  sensation  of 
meeting  with  a  group  of  homophil- 
may  be  surprised  to  learn  how  mm 
have  in  common  with  each  other,  how 
many  others  shared  most  of  your  anx- 
ieties and  frustrations  until  they  finally 

took  that  first  big  step  and  ended  by 
joining  their  fellows  not  only  for  the 
sake  of  comradeship,  but  in  a  mutual 
attempt  to  achieve  die  civil  rights  due 
to  all  those  who  live  In  a  free  country. 

In  many  places  throughout  die  West- 
ern world,  progress  has  been  and  is 
being  made  toward  die  goal  of  adequate 

latlve  protection  of  the  rights  of 
homophiles. 

A  brief  has  been  presented  to  Ottawa 
seeking  the  enactment  of  legislation 
thai  wdl  guarantee  equality  to  all  hom- 
ophiles In  employment,  child  adoption 
and  many  other  sensitive  areas  where 
till  now  It  has  been  denied  us . 


It  is  obvious  that  such  legislation  can 
aot  come  about  without  the  intense  .  iimi 
of  many  dedicated  Individuals,  so  you 
must  realize  that  there  are  many  people 
up  front  who  are  paving  the  way  for  you. 

But  think  how  much  further  and  faster 
our  mutual  cause  would  be  served  if  all 
of  us  came  out  of  our  closets  and  added 
our  voices,  our  energies,  our  talents 
and  even  our  mere  presence  to  the  total 
homophile  movement  for  justice  and 
equality. 


OUT  OF  THE  CLOSET 
AND  INTO  THE.  IWRLb 
6y  NMCY UUALKUZ 


In  many  instances  laws  have  been  pro- 
posed which  would  grant  civil  rights  to 
homophiles,  but  they  have  been  defeated 
over  and  over  again  because  there  is  not 
sufficient  pressure  brought  to  bear  by  the 
interested  parties .  No  one  is  going  to 
hand  us  the  gift  of  freedom  on  a  plate. 
We  have  to  work  for  it.  When  progress 
is  made,  it  is  because  a  large  number 
of  us  have  done  what  was  necessary  to 
achieve  our  ends.  If  you  want  to  liv  I  I 
freer,  more  natural,  more  socially  mo- 
bile life,  you  have  to  participate,  you 
have  to  be  politically  aware  and  politic- 
ally active.    It  must  be  the  concern  of 
every  gay  person  to  attain  civil  rights 
for  all.    No  one  Is  in  a  closet  because  he 
truly  wants  to  be,  and  if  we  all  work  to- 
ward helping  each  other  out,  no  one  will 
have  to  be  in  one  any  more. 

Fear  is  not  easily  overcome.    It  is 
probably  Impossible  to  get  rid  of  it  in 
theory.    We  all  can  say,  "Yes,  I  agree," 
while  in  the  relatively  safe,  though  stuffy 
comfort  of  the  closet,  but  nothing  will 
suffice  to  scotch  the  terrors  (so  many  of 
them  really  unfounded)  until  we  experi- 
ence life  in  the  open  air  amid  our  fellows. 

Women  are  disproportionately  ab- 
sent from  gay  activities.    It  takes  little 
imagination  to  understand  that  we  can 


ration  on  University  of  Albert 


Campus  -  too  much  talk,  Iur_U  *..n>..r.. 


That  gay  liberation  has  become  a  re 
ality  on  other  university  campuses  ac- 
ross Canada  and  not  here  should  tell  u; 
something  about  Western  attitude  as 
compared  to  Eastern  enthusiasm.    Wha 
I  mean  by  that  is  this:    is  there  not  one 
homosexual  on  the  University  of  Albert 
campus  who  feels  oppressed  enough  to 
form  a  gay  alliance  with  fellow  gays? 
Apparently  not! 

When  conceiving  of  a  homophile  move 
ment  here  last  March.  I  was  told  that 
■i  woula  end  up  be  ing"  the"  gay  movement 
That  has  become  the  reality  of  the  sit- 
uation and  1  am  not  proud  to  shout  "I  am 
the  University  of  Alberta  Homophde 
movement."    Lack  of  support  can  be 
traced  to  a  well  organized  friendly  and 
open  gay  club  in  the  city  which  absorbs 
most  of  the  campus  gay  crowd.     From 
the  responses  I  have  received,  it-would 
appear  that  no  one  feels  harassed  or 
prejudiced  against  -  can  the  Eomonton 
gay  population  say  they  are  truly  happy 
or  are  we  only  afraid  to  "come  out"  and 
look  our  straight  brothers  in  the  face1! 
What  else  can  be  said? 

Gary  McDonald 


"pass  far  more  easdy  than  the  men", 
but  if  we  want  to  be  truly  equal  (and  if 
that  is  not  what  we  want,  what  is  Wo- 
men's Lib  all  about?  )  we  must  share 
equally  the  responsibility  for  action  to- 
ward a  better  life  for  all  homophiles. 

Come  out,  all  you  gay  men  ana  women. 
Try  realizing  your  fullest  potential  as 
whole  human  beings.    No  one  asks  that 
you  carry  a  banner  or  make  loud  spee- 
ches.   You  will  not  even  be  pressed  (o 
give  your  name  and  address  to  anyone 
if  you  do  not  want  to,  so  there  is  noth- 
ing to  fear.    Just  meet  with  us  some- 
time, somewhere.    If  you  live  in  an 
area  or  attend  a  school  where  there    is 
apparently  no  organization  for  gay  peo- 
ple, start  one.    Just  summon  up  all  your 
courage  and  make  a  beginning.    Every 
good  thing  that  ever  happened  had  a  start 
and  a  starter.    If  you  want  any  informa- 
tion on  how  to  begin,  get  in  touch  with 
any  of  the  organizations  listed  on  pages 
8  and  9  of  this  paper. 

Here  in  Toronto  it  Is  particularly 
easy  to  make  contact  with  different 
kinds  of  gay  groups.    And  remember,  if 
the  first  attempt  you  make  does  not  re- 
sult in  your  "conversion"  to  a  more 
open  way  of  lde,  try  another  time  and 
another  place.    You  are  wanted  and 
needed,  and  you  owe  it  to  yourself. 


14  The  Body  Politic 


A  PROGRAM  FOR  G  AY 
LIBERATION 


Everyone  in  the  Gay  Liberation  Move- 
ment is  gay,  knows  that  we  are  oppress- 
ed because  of  our  sexuality  and  wants  to 
take  some  form  of  action  to  fight  againsi 
this  oppression  and  gain  equality  with  our 
straight  brothers  and  sisters.  Outside  of 
these  obvious  points  of  agreement  there 
is  a  whole  range  of  differences  in  politi- 
cal ideology,  personal  life  styles,  socio- 
economic levels  etc.  furthermore,  'the 
degree  of  divergency  will  increase  as 
the  movement  grows. 

What  must  be  noted  is  that  organiza- 
tions like  Toronto  Cay  Action,  Univer- 
sity of  Toronto  Homophile  Association 
and  Community  Homophile  Association 
of  Toronto  will  have  to  grow  to  be  able 
to  mobilize  the  thousands  of  gays  who 
have  the  power  to  change  the  laws  and 
institutions  in  society  which  perpetuate 
our  oppression. 

As  long  as  we  are  considered  or  are 
seen  to  represent  only  a  small  minority 
of  our  own  people  the  government,  the 
media,  churches,  educational  system, 
etc.  will  all  carry  on  business  as  usual 
--Oppression  Incorporated,  with  its 
sales  pitch  of  lies,  miseducation,  slan- 
der and  ridicule.    When  we  can  no  lon- 
ger be  ignored  and  our  message  is  be- 
ginning to  receive  a  hearing,  the  cru- 
der methods  are  not  as  effective. 

This  is  why  the  sophisticated,  liber- 
al newsmagazine,  Newsweek,  ran  a  four 
page  article  on  the  gay  liberation  move- 
ment.   Whfle  attempting  to  appear  ob- 
jective and  even  sympathetic  throughout 
most  of  the  article,  the  thrust  of  their 
report  was  anti-gay  liberation.    They 
magnanimously  accepted  our  right  to 
homosexuality,  but  not  the  fact  that  we 
are  norm  al . 

They  make  a  calculated  progression 
from  dividing  us  along  racial,  sexual 
and  political  lines  to  their  penultimate 
conclusion  that  homosexuality  is  still 
basically  an  individual  problem  to  ne 
resolved  in  ones  own  mind,  whether 
you  are  a  "pathetically  unhappy  homo- 
sexual" who  would  rather  be  straight  or 
a  "gay  militant"  .    They  conclude,  of 
course,  by  decrying  rhetoric  and  par- 
ades and  leaving  each  of  us,  in  or  out 
of  the  closet,  to  quietly  ponder  this 
"intensely  personal  issue". 

To  Newsweek  the  mass  united  action  of 
homosexuals  is  an  anathma.    But  for  gay 
men  and  women  this  type  of  action  can 
be  the  most  powerful  lever  at  our  dispo- 
sal. 

To  develop  and  wield  this  lever  we 
need  an  organization  and  a  program. 
Gay  activists  who  reject  this  approach 
fall  into  Newsweek's  trap  and  help  main- 
tain the  divisions  which  have  enabled 
society  to  oppress  us. 


No  one  can  deny  that  these  divisions 
exist,  nor  can  we  say  that  the  views  of 
the  activists  reflect  the  sentiments  of 
the  majority  of  gays  In  Toronto.    Unlike. 
Newsweek  though,  wc  see  the  need  to 
organize  and  demonstrate  because  we 
know  that  we  arc  normal  and  it  is  soci- 
ety and  social  institutions  which  are  re- 
sponsible for  producing  "pathetically  un- 
happy" human  beings,  straights  as  well 
as  gays. 

1  ins  brings  us  back  to  our  initial  re- 
mucks.    They  suggest  the  organization- 
al approach  we  should  take  to  be  able 
to  grow  and  a  program  around  which  we 
can  unite  and  draw  larger  and  larger 
numbers  of  gays  into  the  struggle.    It 
begins  to  answer  the  most  important 
question  before  us  --  what  is  the  most 
effective  and  efficient  way  to  work  for 
gay  liberation  at  this  time7 

Explicitly,  this  means  that  we  will 
have  to  develop  a  program  which  speaks 
to  the  needs  of  the  majority  of  gays,  not 
to  a  handful  of  gay  militants.    Through 
our  experiences  to  date,  the  beginning 
of  such  a  program  has  been  raised  a- 
round  the  struggle  for  gay  civil  rights 
and  its  concomitant  educational  cam- 
paign through  such  slogans  as  'Repeal 
All  Anti-homosexual  Laws',' Sexuality 
is  a  Human  Right'  and  '  Teach  the  Truth 
About  Sexuality  in  the  Schools  -  At  All 
Levels' . 

The  most  important  tactic  is  building 
well  organized  and  well  publicized  ac- 
tions such  as  demonstrations,  public 
meetings  and  debates,  conferences, pic- 
kets at  anti-gay  media  establishments, 
etc.  etc.    These  actions  will  carry  a 
clear  message  to  our  brothers  and  sis- 
ters in  the  closet  --  you  are  not  alone, 
gay  is  good,  gay  is  proud!    --  and  which 
are  aimed  at  the  social  Institutions 
which  not  only  reflect  the  prevailing 
anti-homosexual  attitudes  of  society  at 
large,  but  also  have  the  power  to  physi- 
cally oppress  us  and  perpetuate  these 
attitudes.      This  is  the  most  decisive 
way  to  cut  across  our  fragmentation  and 

iy  and  straight  heads  In  mi 
process. 

Revolving  around  tins  basic  strategy 
of  building  the  gay  mov,  in.  hi  LeaVi 
plenty  of  room  for  a  tremendous  varie- 
ty of  tactics  and  social  activities. 

I  would  like  here  to  discuss  one  of 
the  tactics  which  has  been  applied  to 
date  and  ask  how  effective  has  it  been 
In  reaching  and  involving  new  people? 

it  u  up  to  those  who  advocate  the 
"Zap  Strategy"  to  explain  what  they  ex- 
pect the  gay  movement  to  get  out  of  it. 
Certainly  it  can  be  said  that  they  require 
very  little,  if  any,  work  to  organize, 
they  are  fun  (at  least  four  out  of  five 
times)  and  they  supposedly  are 


:  libera-  1  wnich  gavs  P1 

•\:mi:\i 


ting  experiences  for  the  small  number 
of  individuals  who  participate.    They 
prove  that,  in  most  cases,  it  is  possi- 
ble for  gays  to  dance  together  in  most 
straight  bars  and  hold  hands  in  the 
streets.    To  straights  who  are  confron- 
ted by  a  zap,  it  confirms  that  there  are 
indeed  homosexuals  in  Toronto.    At 
best,  for  the  few  dozen  to  the  few  thou- 
sand who  see  such  an  action  it  cuts  a- 
cross  their  stereotyped  image  of  gays. 
Ilns  type  of  action,  as  they  have  been 
planned  to  date,  says  nothing  about  the 
issues  of  gay  1  iberation .    Freaking 
someone  out  does  not,  by  itself,  raise 
consciousness. 

Since  wc  all  live,  are  oppressed  and 
die  in  the  real  world  it  might  be  valu- 
ble  here  to  look  at  our  constituancy,  the 
gay  community  we  are  trying  to  mobi- 
lize, and  the  straight  community  as  well 
Using  Kinsey's  statistics  and  allowing 
for  the  fact  that  gays  who  are  out  gra- 
vitate to  the  larger  cities  we  can  say 
there  are  approximately  130  to  200  thou- 
sand gays  in  Toronto.    Of  these,  a  siz- 
able minority  have  come  out  to  the  point 
of  frequenting  the  gay  bars,  clubs,  baths 
etc. 

These  are  the  people  we  can  reach  di- 
rectly and  are  the  ones  who  wfll  begin 
to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  gay  liberation 
movement.    At  the  same  time,  our  pub- 
licity and  educational  campaigns  have 
to  be  aimed  at  eur  brothers  and  sisters 
who  are  much  more  deeply  in  the  closet 
and  at  the  straight  communtty. 

Like  straights,  the  vast  majority  of 
gays  will  not  jeopardize  their  livelihood, 
their  relationships  widi  their  family  and 
friends  and  fellow  workers  for  a  distant 
promise  of  liberation,  no  matter  how 
miserable  their  present  lot. 

Like  straights,  the  vast  majority  of 

gays  will  not  be  willing  to  risk  even  the 

slightest  possibility  of  physical  violence 

for  one  or  two  hours  of  "liberation"  . 

Unlike  other  oppressed  minorities, 

n.i iui  it y  «>!  giys  cannot  be  iden- 
tified and  will  prefer    He  security  of  the 
gay  ghetto  for  a  long  tine  to  come  — 
despite  all  its  shurtconings,  the  gay 
ghetto  is  extremely  attractive  compared 
to  being  in  the  closet. 

All  of  Uiis  is  mentioned,  not  to  dis- 
courage gay  activists.    Co  the  contrary, 
it  is  mentioned  to  put  our  movement  in 
the  proper  perspective.    It  will  take  at 
least  a  few  years,  a  great  deal  of  ener- 
gy and  some  degree  of  personal  sacrifice 
from  each  of  us  to  begin  to  win  our  legal 
rights,  let  alone  gay  studies,  evenat 
the  university  level.    Gay  liberation 
groups  have  to  be  serious  and  well  or- 
ganized so  we  can  pose  a  serious  and 
viable  alternative  to  the  situation  in 

presently  find  themselves. 


CONTINUED       OVER 


@» 


No  organization  has  anything  to  gain 
by  taking  credit  for  small,  unorganized, 
apolitical  actions  which  has  been  the  way 
the  zaps  have  been  handled  up  until  now. 
Whde  T.G.A.'ers  were  attempting  to- 
ken Integration  of  a  few  straight  bars 
tile  rest  of  Toronto's  150,000    odd  gays 
Were  either  at  home  in  the  closet  01  en- 
joying themselves  (or  getting  quietly 
loaded)  in  the  gay  bars  and  clubs  with- 
out fear  of  getting  rapped  in  the  mouth 
bj  U  up-tight  heterosexual.    In  both 
cases,  since  there  was  no  advance  leaf- 
letting  or  press  publicity  they  heard  lit- 
tle or  nothing  of  these  actions . 

This  is  not  to  say  we  shouldn't  from 
time  10  time  assert  our  right  to  go  to 
Straight  bars  or  hold  hands  in  the  Street; 
tlu    latter  Beams  to  me  to  be  a  better  ac- 
tion.   In  any  case,  next  time  lets  do  it 
right.     YeS,   dure  is  more  preparation 
andwoik  mwilvivl  and  it  won't  appear 
spontaneous,  but  the  movement  wdl  get 
some  return  for  its  efforts.    All  u  takes 
IS  a  pre86  releaSCi   a  thousand  leaflets 
to  hand  out  and  poster  at  the  bars  and 
clubs  a  few  days  before  and  a  marshal  - 

pstern  to  defend  the  participants. 

To  date,  we  have  seen  that  physical 
attai  I  se<  ms  unlikely.   The  best  way  to 
,eee  dial  this  remains  so  in  the  future 
is  to  be  well      prepared.    Most  straights 
are  prejudiced  against  us,  some  fear 
and. hate  us  and  ot  these,  onlv  a  handful 
will  attempt  assault.    They  will  be  dis- 
couraged by  the  presence  of  the  press 
and  the  cops  who  will  more  likely  be 
around  at  a  publicized  action.    If  not, 
■our  willingness  to  defend  ourselves  and 
our  right  to  protest  undisturbed  and  to 
lay  charges  will  help  discourage  others. 
The  larger  the  action  the  easier  this 
will  be. 

This  does  not  mean  we  should  wait  un- 
til we  are  sure  our  actions  Will  draw 
thousands  Into  the  streets  before  initia- 
ting them .    If  we  all  waited  for  that  day, 
gay  liberation  would  remain  a  distant 
promise,  forever.    It  means  that  those 
of  us  who  have  reached  the  understanding 
of  gay  oppression  and  gay  liberation 
which  has  moved  us  to  join  an  activist 
organization  are  not  totally  unique. 

It  was  not  a  mystical  call  to  arms  to 
the  chosen  few  which  gave  us  this  under- 
standing.   It  was  a  combination  of  exter- 
nal forces  and  circumstances  which  are 
common  to  all  gays,  some  extremely 
subtle,  but  the  most  obvious  being  our 
gayncss,  the  growing  ami-authoritarian- 
ism of  youth,  together  with  the  activist 
movements,  especially  Women's  Liber- 
ation, and  above  all  the  inability  of  gay 
people  in  individually  escape  their  op- 
presion  because  of  the  deeply  rooted 
sexism  in  our  society  and  Its  Institutions. 

As  the  gay  liberation  movement  and 
organizations  grow,  tile  newly  recruited 
ictlvlsts,    ill i  ■.,  u  ,-.■.,  must  main- 
tain the  perspective  <>t  eventually  winning 
the  Buppori  ni  the  overwhelming  ma  |m  I 
ty  of  our  fellow  gays.    We  can  havi   everj 
1  onfldt  rn  ,   thai  thi  |  will  eventually  Col 

Lev  -hi  path  h tii  ■  losel  to  th< 

trei  i- 

1    ally,  wi  will  win  the  support 

■'  "I  '"■ tj  ol     traJ 

are  oppressed  by  n, 

'    I    called  "normal"  In  this 

-  ali  i   ii,.  v  havi   no 

1  ,!*-  ! ■■■  i   in  hatin 

■  iga  uf 

"wn. 


Sunday 
bloody 
Sunday 


SUNDAY  BLOODY  SUNDAY  really 
needs  to  be  seen  twice:  once  to  watch 
the  movie,  and  once  to  watch  the  aud- 
lentL-. 

I  must  confess  that  I've  only  been 
to  the  Odeon  Hyland  once  this  week  so 
I  really  shouldn't  be  writing  this  rev- 
iew. 1  couldn't  give  the  film  my  undiv- 
ided attention;  the  audience  reaction 
was  just  too  interesting. 

At  the  point  early  In  the  ftim  when 
the  two  gay  lovers  meet  and  kiss  each 
other  passionately  on  the  lips,  the 
collective  intake  of  breath  by  the  aud- 
ience produced  a  definite  breeze  in 
the  theatre,  as  though  the  air  condition- 
ing had  just  been  turned  on.  Every- 
where one  could  feel  pairs  of  hands 
clutching  sides  of  seats,  and  boy- 
friends moving  a  little  closer  to  girl- 
friends. I  don't  think  any  movie  audi- 
ence has  experienced  such  a  group 
frisson  since  the  shower  scene  in 
Psycho. 

There's  no  doubt  about  it:  Sunday 
Bloody  Sunday  is  shaking  up  a  few 
heads  these  days.  It  may  be  the  best 
zap  (at  least,  the  most  far-reaching 
one)  that  Toronto  has  yet  had.  But  as 
well  as  constituting  a  political  event  of 
some  significance,  it's  also  a  very 
good  film. 


This  kind  of  perspective  poses  a  seri- 
ous challenge  to  gay  activists.    To  meet 
this  challenge  we  have  to  organize  a 
movement  which  is  prepared  to  take  ac- 
tion in  the  manner  already,  briefly  out- 
lined.   That  is,    actions  which  will  in- 
volve and  reach  the  largest  numbers 
possible  in  a  given  situation. 

A  movement  composed  of  organizers, 
not  a  small  band  of  crusaders.  Individ- 
uals In  the  closet  reading  of  a  demon- 
stration or  a  public  meeting  or  debate 
will  realize  that  ignorance  and  preju- 
dice are  sick,  not  their  own  sexuallity  . 
When  they  venture  down  to  the  gay  ghet- 
to we  will  be  there  with  a  leaflet  adver- 
tising die  newt  nueting  or  action.    When 
ihey  come  to  our  meetings  they  can 
democratically  participate,  contribu- 
ting Ideas  and  energy  and  learning, 
themselves,  how  to  organize  the  strug- 
gle.    Tills  process  will  continue  until 
die  power  of  our  numbers  and  the  mes- 
we  carry  shakes  sexist  Canada  to 
Itl    I  and  we  win  our  civil  and  hu- 
man rights. 

Anyone  who  considers  themsell  a  raj 

aCtlViSi  ami    is  Bkeptical  abOUl   this  pi  , 

■i"  i  i  '■■  ■   will  bai  ■   i-  formula*   th< 

n  plj   i-  Ihe  question  --  what   is  the  51 

it  way  to  work  for 

bi  ration  at  this  time?    His  pages 
<>i  The  Body  Politic  Will  Be  op 

.  mil  i  ibui  Ion  ■ 


The  Body  Politic  15 

It  certainly  marks  a  major  advance 
in  the  political  consciousness  of  John 
Schlesinger,  the  director.  In  at  least 
two  of  his  earlier  films.  Darling  and 
Midnight  Cowboy,  Schlesinger  introduc- 
ed gay  themes.  But  in  line  with  stand- 
ard artistic  policy  on  this  matter,  he 
invariably  equated  homosexuality  and 
decadence.  The  gay  photographer  in 
Darling  was  attractive  but  obviously 
relevant  to  the  heroine's  decline  into 
debauchery.  Latent  homosexuality 
was  OK  in  Midnight  Cowboy,  but  prac- 
ticing homosexuals  were  seen  exclus- 
ively as  dirty  old  men  or  grotesque 
kids  seeking  out  one-night  stands. 

Sunday  Bloody  Sunday  states  clearly 
that  homosexual  relationships  can  be 
as  meaningful  as  heterosexual  ones; 
indeed  it  goes  beyond  that  in  its  implic- 
it critique  of  standard  heterosexual 
institutions,  i.e.  marriage  and  the 
family. 

It  also  shows  considerable  political 
awareness  in  its  deliberate  explorat- 
ion of  the  similarities  in  the  situations 
of  women  and  homosexuals  in  modern 
society. 

The  film  is  seen  entirely  from  the  view 
points  of  Alex,  a  divorced  woman,  and 
Daniel,  a  male  homosexual.  Both  peop- 
le are  trying  to  move  beyond  convent- 
ional relationships:  Alex  to  free  her- 
self from  property  relationships 
esp.  marriage,  Daniel  to  step  beyond 
the  casual,  exploitative  one-night 
stand.  The  problem  of  reconciling  the 
need  for  individual  freedom  with  the 
equal  need  for  total  commitment  is 
explored  in  considerable  depth. 

Sunday  Bloody  Sunday  isn't  a  per- 
fect film.  In  its  treatment  of  a  "liberal" 
family  the  film  descends  into  the  kind 
of  exaggerated  caricature  for  which 
Schlesinger  is  infamous.  There's  also 
a  telephone  answering  service  lady  who 
seems  to  have  been  dragged  in  from 
The  Bells  are  Ringing.  But  these  are 
minor  quibbles;  any  faults  in  the  film 
are  largely  outweighed  by  its  consider- 
able intelligence  and  compassion.  Sun- 
day Bloody  Sunday  is  unquestionably 
the  best  film  treatment  of  homosexual- 
ity that  we're  likely  to  see  for  some 
time. 

-  Tony  Me  tie 


My  Life 

Everyone  said  she  was  ugly. 

They  whispered  behind  her  back 

About  her  evil  and  immoral  ways. 

She  was  the  worst  kind  of  woman . 

Yet,  1  felt  attracted, 

While  at  the  same  time,  terrified 

At  my  desires. 

So  that  I  never  caused  my  eyes 

When  she  passed  by 

Until  she  was  afar .  But 

She  knew  I  wanted  her  and 

In  her  shamele^ 

Chased  me  mercllessi  j 

Until  one  night, 

Torn  with  uVsperatlon 

1  turned  and  !a, 

I  still  don't  know  why 

They  all  1  led 

uitiful . 


16  The  Body  Politic 


SWEEPING  STATEMENTS 


THE  AMBIVALENCE   OF  THE   UNIVERSE 
PART   I 


Before  we  can  hope  to  understand 
the  necessity  for  a  liberation  from  the 
restrictions  on  sexual  behaviour,  we 
must  first  understand  what  repression 
is  and  how  it  came  about--whUe  real- 
izing that  the  very  language  we  use  to 
symbolize  reality  is  both  product  and 
promoter  of  the  repressive  reality  of 
our  present  consciousness.  Gertrude 
Stein  informs  us  that  our  understand- 
ing of  someone  comes  not  so  much  by 
listening  to  the  words  as  to  the  "mow- 
ment  of  their  thoughts  and  words",  die 
rising  and  falling,  the  repetitions.  It 
has  even  been  suggested  that  the  pri- 
mary function  of  language  is  to  lie.  In 
a  society  experiencing  a  great  transi- 
tion, it  is  important  that  we  define  (in 
our  own  subjective  way)  the  terms 
which  are  essential  concepts  of  the  rev 
olution.    Here  I  Present  a  few  ideas 
concerning  sexuality  &  the  origin  and 
role  of  repression. 

Sexuality  is  the  energy  of  living  forms 
and  communion  is  the  affirmation  of 
life  energy.    It  is  the  individual  react- 
ing with  the  environment,  the  response 
of  life  to  all  stimuli.    Survival,  repro- 
duction, and  evolution  will  continue  as 
long  as  the  quantity -quality  expressions 
of  sexual  energy  are  predominantly  Me 
affirmative,,  relative  to  environmental 
conditions.  This  means  that  the  ex- 
pressions of  life  energy  of  any  species 
is  basically  conservative — that  obses- 
sive expression  of  any  particular  be- 
haviour would  tend  to  be  more  life  des- 
tructive than  life  affirmative. 

Human  consciousness  once  experien- 
ced life  with  a  greater  sense  of  unity, 
the  unity  of  body-mind,  self -other, 
nature -humanity  --  of  the  underlying 
relationships  between  everything  we 
perceive,  of  the  reciprocity  of  all 
"opposites"  .    The  realitivity  of  our 
world  consists  of  experiencing  limited 
areas  within  various  spectra  --multple 
reflections,   intermingled  dimensions 
of  the  continua  of  energies.  The"uieis" 
of  external  reality  for  us  are  our  five 
senses.  The  myths  and  values  of  his- 
tory have  determined  our  conscious- 
ness, have  destroyed  our  wholeness. 
Mind,  experienced  as  separate  from 
and  superior  to  the  body  has  all  but 
closed  our  senses  and  ultimately  stag- 
nated the  mind.    William  Blaxe  under- 
stood when  he  wrote,  "If  the  doors  of 
perception  were  cleansed  everything 
would  appear  to  man  as  it  is,  infinite." 
Now  we  peer  through  the  "chinks"  of 
our  cavern  and  our  responses  are  most- 
ly false,  tokenistic  cliches  without  a 
deeply  felt  spiritual  quality.  (For  me' 
the  spirit  is  the  honesty  of  unified  body 
and  mind.)  The  tyranny  of  power  pol- 
itics, the  society  which  renders  the  in- 
dividual passive  and  manipulable  is 
based  on  the  perpetuation  of  a  reality 
which  promotes  alienation  and  schizo- 
phrenia --  which  experiences  and  de- 
fines through  dualistic  perception,  al- 
ways emphasizing  divisions  and  separ- 
ations.   Cliche  history  puts  it  this  way: 
A  house  divided  cannot  stand  --  Divide 
and  conquer.    Such  is  the  history  of 
human  consciousness,  such  is  the  force 
behind  all  domination. 


Repression  is  an  evolutionary  mech- 
anism of  behavioural  programming 
whereby  all  animal  populations  seek  to 
assure  the  survival  and  "success"  of 
their  species.    Phylogenetlcally  the 
most  primitive  and  deep-rooted  con- 
trols are  the  instincts.    Instincts  are 
grounded  in  the  genetic  code  and  are 
expressed  physiologically  and  etholo- 
gically.    They  are  the  basic  protective 
and  life  affirmative  behavioural  ten- 
dencies.   Animals  other  than  man  rely 
totally  on  instinctual  tendencies  as 
behaviour  "regulators". 

Social  insect  species  have  evolved 
additional  means  of  influencing  the  in- 
nate instinctual  behavioural  potential. 
Honey  bees  practice  physiological 
control  by  regulating  nutrient  Intake 
during  the  larval  stage.    The  bee  so- 
ciety consists  of  diree  "castes":  queen, 
worker,  and  drone.  During  the  warm 
months  a  typical  hive  may  contain 
15,000  workers,  one  queen,. and  a  few 
hundred  drones.  Workers  and  queer  J 
are  produced  from  female  eggs .  The 
quantity  and  nature  of  the  larval  diet 
of  workers  is  such  that  their  sexual 
organs  do  not  mature.  New  queens 
are  produced  by  feeding  a  few  female 
larvae  large  quantities   of  proteinous 
"bee  milk"  and  "royal  jelly",  a  sub- 
stance produced  in  the  abdominal 
glands  of  nursing  worker  hees. 
This  diet  induces  full  genital  dev- 
elopment.    Workers  are  truly  "de- 
genitalized". females,  with  the  to- 
tal  life  energy  spent  doing  the 
work  of  the  hive  (hive  construction, 
food  gathering,  care  of  larvae, 
queen  and  drones).     Their  sexual 
organ,  the  ovipositor  is  even  mod- 
ified into  a  stinger  to  defend  the 
hive.    .The  queen,  on  the  other 
hand  is  a  creature  whose  sole  fun- 
ction is  reproduction.     He  entire 
life  is  spent  laying  eggs.  OnVy 
once,  for  the  purpose  of  mating,' 
does  she  leave  the  hive.     Her  sex- 


uality, although  completely  genital, 
is  perhaps  and  even  less  desirable 
labour  than  that  of  the  workers. 
The  males,  or  drones,  perform  no 
work  and  are  produced  only  for  the 
fertilization  of  the  queen.     They 
are  eliminated  at  the  first  sign 
of  economic  scarcity. 
Such  is  the  life  in  a  bee  society, 
each  member  functioning  as  the  be- 
havioural  "programme"   is  acted  out. 
Societies,  by  definition,  seem  de- 
pendent upon  additional   repression 
over  those  instinctual   controls   in- 
herent in  each  fully  developed  in- 
dividual.    Somewhere  in  their  evol- 
utionary history  bees  achieved 
that  additional   repression  by  in- 
itiating physiological   control   into 
the  instinctual   programme. 

Originally,  all   repression  was 
activated  by  economic  necessity 
(food,   shelter  from  physical  and 
biological   environment).     In  the 
case  of  man  this  was  probably  the 
only  incentive  until   the  evolut- 
ionary landmark  when  the  human  mind 
developed  the  capacity  of  self- 
awareness.     At  this  point  the 
consciousness  embarked  upon  the 
road  of  repression  through  control 
of  reality  perception.     Man's 
awareness  of  himself,  the  resulting 
realization  and  fear  of  his  own  mor- 
tality ,  cast  him  out  of  unquestion- 
ing eternity  into  time-consciousness 
—  into  the  disorientation  of  being 
able  to  reflect  but  not  to  totally 
understand,  accept,  or  escape  his 
condition.     FEAR,   the  need  for  a 
sense  of  'security'  which  could  give 
existence  meaning  drove  man  out  of 
the  Eden  of  instinctual   satisfaction. 
To  construct  a  reality  which  would 
provide  a  semblance  of  meaning  and 
security  from  the  great  unknown 
(death  and  the  universe)   human  con- 
sciousness underwent  a  polarization 
promoting  behavioural   expressions 
which  would  help  in  the  creation 
of  this  goal   and  suppressing  the 
expression  of  instinctual   desires 
which  challenged  the  validity  of 
this  world  view.     Consciousness 
underwent. a  gradual    'division'   into 
what  we  now  refer  to  as  conscious 
and  unconscious.     This  self  of  the 
conscious  self  the  EGO,   is  an  el- 
aborate defence  structure,  a   system 
of  wall   protecting  the  individual 
from  his  own  repressed  desires  and 
from  the  vibrations  of  others  who 
might  threaten  this  self  concept. ^ 

In  any  society,  as  individ- 
uals are  growing  up,   they  are 
taught  the  myths  and  values  which 
will   rule  their  behaviour  and  pro- 
vide them  with  a  sense  of  self. 
Primary  to  the  functioning  of 
the  EGO  is  the  promotion  of  dual- 
istic perception.     The  strength 
of  the  dualistic  myth  in  any  cul- 
ture may  be  revealed  by  studying 
the  language,     The  conscious  real- 
ity of  the  ego  is  automatically, 
translated  into  language.     This 
realization  enables  one  to  reflect 
upon  the  severity  of  a  society's 
schizophrenia  and  increases  one's 
awareness  of  the  possibilities 
(through  media)  and  necessity  for 
liberation  at  the  level   of  semantics. 

The  original   function  of  the  in- 
stincts was  to  repress  behavioural 
expressions  which  might  threaten  the 
survival   and  success  of  the  species. 

continued  next  page 


THE  GAY  GHETTO: 


■  REPRINTED  FROM  GEORGIA  STRAIT 


To  use  a  well  known  phrase  I  "came 
out"  in  1964.    Things  were  more  difficult 
then.    Everone  says  tilings  have  changed. 
They  have .    Except  one:    The  gay  ghetto 
3r  more  specifically  gay  clubs. 

Here  is  an  excerpt  from  a  poem  I 
wrote  in  1965  --  a  lot  of  it  is  still  rele- 
vant today. 

Then  there  are  the  clubs  of 
smoke,  feminizing  lights,  erotic  rock 
&  roll 
and  piss -elegant  drags. 

(mad  -  you  know  -  simply  mad) 

It  congeals  in  your  mind  til  you 
forget 

or  make  out . . . 
Go  home 

let  frustration 
cloud  you  into 
depression. 

That  is  the  ghetto  trip.  At  one  time 
there  was  no  alternative,  no  way  out. 
Now  there  is.  It's  called  liberation  to 
those  who  can  dig  it. 

Now  1  want  to  show  those  in  our  midsr 
who  seem  obviously  blind  to  the  fact  that 
the  ghetto  is  self -perpetuating.    How  it 
hasn't  changed  in  basic  structure  for  ma- 
ny years.    Why  it  will  never  change  and 
MUST  be  eliminated.    Two  clubs  as  ex- 
amples in  time  will  help  to  illuminate 
my  point: 

CLUB  *f  !  -  THE  MUSIC  ROOM  -  Mix- 
ed (male/female)  club  on  xonge  St.  in 
Toronto  (since  closed).  I  first  went  there 
in  '64  with  a  group  of  friends.    The  de- 
cor was  basically  black  paint  with  a  few 
spotlit  graphics  on  the  walls  of  pastel 
ballet  studies.    It  was  lit  by  colored 
(mainly  red)  lights.    It  had  a  stage  for 
drag  shows  and  a  manned  record  con- 
sole.   We  usually  arrived  drunJc  (no  li- 
quor in  gay  clubs,  even  to  this  day  in 
Toronto)  with  our  styled  and  sprayed 
haircuts  and  puffy  powder  blue  mohair 
sweaters.    We  danced  fast  to  Martha 
and  the  Vandellas,  Supremes  or  even 
the  Beach  Boys.    Slow  to  Dusty  Spring- 
field or  Righteous  Brothers  (how's  that 
for  a  heavy  flash  back? ) 

We  twitched  and  twittered  over  some 
one  and  after  working  up  the  nerve  to 
ask  them  to  dance  got  turned  down.  If 
we  did  get  it  on  (home,  my  place,  for 
coffee  or  a  drink)  we  usually  got  sexu- 
ally ripped-off    by  being  rushed  out  af- 
ter breakfast  and  after  that  were  usual- 
ly snubbed  or  gossiped  about  by  tin    pel 
son  we  went  home  with.    People  always 
played  coming-on-then-turning-o(f  sex- 
ual games.    We  always  claimed  thai   ■  < 
went  there  lo  dance  we  really  knew  that 
we  came  there  to  cruise.    We  all  wanted 
lovers  -  we  all  ended  up  with  tricks.  We 
were  sexist,  totally. 

CLUB  #  2  -  FACES  -  Restricted  mix- 
ed Vancouver  club  (male  chauvinist  pol- 
icy of  having  token  "women's"  nights). 
I  first  went  there  in  late  70  and  early 
'71  with  gay  lib  people.    The  decor  is 
basic  black  paint  with  black  lit  graphics 
(jf  art  nouveau  faces.    Has  an  interesting 
light  show,  strobe,  blackhght  and  colors 
(red  again)  no  drag  shows  but  an  unused 


platform  for-ra  go-go  boy.    It  has  a  man - 
tied  record  console.    We  usually  arrive 
stoned  with  our  trendy  long  hair  and 
bearded  hipness.    We  dance  fast  to  Janis, 
Chicago  or  Creedencc.    Slow  to  George 
Harrison  or  Santana.    We  pose  and  pos- 
ture over  each  other  and  can  usually  get 
it  on  for  a  dance  or  two  (going  home  can 
be  a  problem:  games).    Lots  of  gossip 
--  some  sexual  rlpoffs.    Being  out-front 
enough  and  asking  someone  home  "to 
ball,  man"  is  disusterouB.    It  seems  that 
grass  is  the  latest  pick-up  ploy.    Dated 
and  sexist  terms  such  as  tricking,  cruis- 
ing and  meat  rack  are  STILL  in  use; 
games  of  alienation  are  STILL  played; 
we  still  pretend  to  want  "true  love"  (what- 
ever Mary  Poppuis  evasion  that  is)  and 
end  up  with  sex  objects.    We  still  contin- 
'  ue  to  inflict'these  tortures  upon  one  an- 
other and  damn  anyone  who  offers  change. 
We're  still  totally  sexist  in  the  ghetto. 
Also  I  see  the  owners  of  these  clubs 
(we  have  seven  of  these  ghetto  centres) 
as  vultures  who  get  pig  fattened  from  the 
money  of  people  who  believe  that  there 
is  no  alternative.    I  see  self  perpetua- 
tion of  false  concepts  of  sexuality  contin- 
uing year  after  year  in  the  same  painful 
way.    lior  one  want  to  see  it  disappear 
and  the  ghetto  to  crumble. 

Clubs  are  extremely  noisy,  the  deci- 
bel level  is  exceedingly  high.    Therefore 
all  nuance  and  closeness  of  normal  con- 
versation is  lost.    Most  of  the  time  com- 
municating is  yelling  in  each  others*  ear. 
Not  that  I'm  an  intimacy  freak,  but  I  ne- 
ver could  get  into  a  screaming  Banshee 
space. 

Also  people  group  into  two  distinct 
roles  --  performers  and  observers  and 
in  this  way  can't  communicate  on  any 
level.    Now  this  makes  for  fine  struc- 
tured theatre  or  tremendous  semi-por- 
nography, but  it  prohibits  dealing  with 
people  on  a  human  level.  In  other  words, 
you  have  people  relating  to  each  other 
in  a  COMPLETELY  PHYSICAL  WAY,  as 
total  sex  objects,  with  little  or  no  com- 
munication happening  on  a  verbal  or  per- 
sonal level.    People  go  to  clubs  primari- 
ly to  cruise  in  the  sexist  physical  way. 
Secondary  considerations  such  as  danc- 
ing and  meeting  friends  is  bullshit  and 
as  the  frantic  evening  draws  to  a  l  lOSl 
this  becomes  most  apparent.    People 
objectifying  and  ripping  each  other  off-- 
lovely  isn't  it' 

So  what  are  the  alternatives?      Well, 
I  can't  offer  paradise  OX  white -knight 
formulas,  tin  dow   enough 

of  that  already.    But  1  can  offer  the 
alternatives  wliuh   Mitn   lu  b<    WOO 

for  myseU  and  oth<  i 

i  ii atly,  i eal Lze  thai  you  (and  ii  ■  \  \ 

-<  Mst  Ii  il    I   \  Mi  V        l  IMF.  we  go  to 

a  gay  club  (support  it  monetarily)  that 
we  are  reinforcing  our  sexism  as  well 
as  being  ripped  "'I  both  emotionally  and 
monetarily.    Realise  thai  when  you  meet 
someone  that  you  dig  that  you  are  relating 
to  a  feeling  person  and  not  a  well  con- 
trived physique  (revelation).     Implicit  in 
this  contact  is  a  need  to  know  each  other 
well  enough  that  conversation  and  feel- 
ing flows  as  easily  as  does  the  sexual 
acts.    Balling  with  FRIENDS,  can  you 
dig  it? 


The  Body  Polite  17 
..     Super  frustrated?  then  masturbate 
(if  you  come  on  in  a  super  horny  space 
you'll  never  know  anyone,  no  time). 
Better  stUl  try  making  love  to  yourself  - 
I  won't  explain,  just  dig  it.    (also  you've 
not  ripped  off  nor  hurt  anyone). 

Vancouver  Gay  Liberation  has  a  drop- 
in  centre,  509  Carrall  St.    You  don't 
have  to  come  there  to  cruise,  you  might 
try  rapping  instead,  or  getting  close  to 
another  person  by  sharing  a  common 
space.  You  could  just  even  have  coffee, 
it  is  an  alternative.    You  define  its 
worth  fpr  yourself. 
Make  a  friend  and  then  get  it  on. 
Takes  time  but  it's  ultimately  worthwhile 
and  really  helps  your  head. 

Only  ball  with  people  that  you're  real- 
ly madly  in  love  with  and  only  after 
you've  presented  them  with  roses,  a 
bottle  of  wine,  a  volume  of  sonnets  by 
E.B.  Browning,  an  engagement  ring,  a- 
jeanette  MacDonald  record  sampler 
and  a  5  lb.  sack  of  organic  raisins. 

The  possibilities  of  new  alternatives 
and  liberation  are  as  endless  as  your 
new  growing  awareness  permits. 
"FOOTNOTE: 

Since  this  article  was  first  published, 
the  Vancouver  club  "Faces"  has  under- 
gone an  interior  facelift- -it's  now 
"cruisier"--gay  clubs  seem  to  thrive  on 
becoming  more  ghettoized  than  before 
by  making  rip-off  s  more  easily  available . 

Also,  I  felt  that  this  article  could  be 
applied  to  any  of  the  present  Toronto 
"scene"  clubs.  On  returning  to  this  city 
from  a  year's  absence,  1  would  say  that 
Toronto  clubs  are  worse  as  far  as  ghet- 
toization  is  concerned. 

--John  Forbes 


SWEEPING  STATEMENTS,   cont. 

Now  we  have  embraced  consciousness 
repression  to  repress  expressions  of 
instinctual   tendencies.  Denied  their 
natural   expression  the  instincts  fes- 
ter in  the  frustration  of  partial 
satisfaction.  The  human  spirit,  div- 
ided and  chained  -  elicit  an  aura  of 
sado-masochism  to  all   social   behav- 
iour. No  other  species  practices 
genocide  against  its  own  species. 
Conflicts  between  animals  of  the 
same  species  almost  always  involves 
more  ritual   than  itp^twirHnn.   a«  a 
kind  of  game  playing--with  an  in- 
stinctual reverence  for  the  survival 
of  their  own  species. 

Perhaps  my  speculations  are  not 
always  all   correct.  Afterall    I  give 
no  supporting  data.  The  only  fact 
that"s  really  important  is  one  given 
by  R.9.   Laing  in  his  book,   "The  Pol- 
itics of  Experience".   "Normal  men 
have  killed  perhaps  100,000,000  of 
their  fellow  men  in  the  last  fifty 
years."  To  the  displeasure  of  other 
"scientists"  it  happens  to  be  the 
only  data  in  that  book. 

The  path  to  self-actualization  an 
and  to  a  life  affirmative  unity  of 
our  species  must  begin  by  seeing 
through  the  reality  games  which  ali- 
enate and  divide  us.  There  must  be 
the  realization  that  the  ego,   in  its 
present  manifestation,  enables  us  to 
be  murderers  of  humanity  and  destroy- 
ers of  our  environment  --and  makes 
us  fear  the  possibilities  of  physi- 
cal-intellectual  love  with  all   human 
beings. 

Jearld  F.  Moldenhauer 


\ 


VjS  The  Body  Pol uk 


The  majority  of  the  general  population 
is  a  victim  of  the  sexual  brainwashing 
which  is  our  inheritance. 

Those  who  engage  in  sexual  acta  not 
performed  'penis -vagina',  are  quite 
willing  to  submit  to  the  claim  that  their 
acts  are  unnatural,  a  perversion  of  the 
"one,  true  act." 

It  is  clear  that  gay  and  sexual  libera- 
tion are  inextricably  combined,  iust  as 
it  is  clear   that  the  elemental  premises 
of  sexual  liberation  have  not  effectively 
reached  gay  people.    !t  is  as  inevitable 
that  gay  liberation  will  not  succeed  un- 
til these  premises  are  recognized  as 
valid  by  gay  people,  as  it  is  assured  it 
will  succeed  once  they  are  accepted- 
Called  for  is  a  recognition  of  sexual  - 
ity  as  an  inseparable  trait  and  tendency 
of  humanity,  and  a  parallel  recognition 
that  there  are  as  many  varied  accept- 
able manifestations  of  this  tendency  as 
there  are  oeODle. 

INITIATION 

Sexual  response  prd  Heal 

and  emotional  Qutlej  achi  .  ,,, . 

through  orgasm . 


RITES 


Sexuality  is  <*u  appetite  along  the 

■ 
the  fooi 

1,1     'I'"  :  ■■  ■     

■    ; 
■  I 
to  thi 

a  tube 
■ 


To  carry  the  idea  further,  the  urges 
of  hunger  are  satisfied  by  food.  To 
question  and  delegate  the  circumstan- 
ces under  which  orgasm  is  to  be  prop-  - 
erly  reached  is  akin  to  questioning  whe- 
ther eating  widi  the  left  hand  or  the 
right  will  more  satisfy  hunger. 

That  procreation  should  in  any  way  be 
connected  with  the  process  of  sexual 
satisfaction  is  purely  circumstance. 

Indeed,  for  procreation  to  be  initiated 
orgasm  must  occur  in  u  very  special 
situation.    First  that  orgasm  must  be 
reached  by  a   male;  second  that  orgasm 
must  be  reached  by  u  male  who  is  fert- 
ile; third  that  orgasm  must  be  reached 
by  a  male  who  is  fertile  in  the  presence 
of  a  female;  fourth  that  orgasm  must  be 
reached    by  a  male  who  is  fertile  In  the 
presence  of  a  female  durim?  periods  In 
which  she  is  fertile,   u*  she  is?' fifth  that 
orgasm  must  be  reached  by  a  male  who 
r.  i.  ride  in  the  presence  Ol  a  female 
din  mi;  periods   in  which  she  is  fertile  if 
she  is,  and  using  a  particular  method  of 
achieving  orgasm  Willi  a  fcin.ili    l|H  in    - 
vagina).  Even  if  all  these  requirements 
are  satisfied,  procreation  is  far  from 
guaranteed. 

To  say  that  because  the  procreative 
process  may  be  triggered  if  orgasm 
occurs  after  all  these  conditons  are  met 
therefore  the  procreative  process  is  the 
purpose  of  achieving  orgasm  is  patently 
absurd. 

Orgasm  can  be  attained  by  a  male  or 
a  female,  fertile  or  infertile, alone  or 
in  co-operation  with  a  person  of  the 
same  sex,  or  with  the  other  sex,  or 
with  animals,  or  the  use  of  manipula- 
tive tools,  through  methods  in  number 
and  variation  as  limitless  as  the  human 
imagination.    The  common  denominator 
in  all    cases  is  the  physical  and  emotion 
al  outlet  which  orgasm  provides. 

We  live  in  a  society  where  sex,  sexu- 
ality and  eroticism  have  been  so  restri- 
cted and  repressed  it  disturbs  people 
greatly  to  even  touch  one  another. 

Members  of  our  society  are  from 
infancy  taught  by  omission  and  commis- 
sion that  the  outlet  for  sexual  urges  is 
the   other  sex  and  only  in  certain  ways 
and  under  certain  conditions.    There 
are  no  alternatives.    Certain  feelings 
and  urges  are  automatically  channelled 
in  the  accepted  direction  by  such  a  cul- 
ture and  it  becomes  a  part  of  the  sub- 
conscious of  the  individual  to  respond 
to  the  appetite  in  the  accustomed  man- 
ner.  Any  other  direction  is  unaccept- 
able, sinful,  shameful  and  unnatural. 


Any  other  form  of  response  requires 
a  person  to  act  against  rather  than  in 
tandem  with  his  subconscious,  thus  the 
uneasiness,  guilt  feelings,  confusion 
which  gay  people  especially,  manifest 
whether  they  are  aware  of  it  or  not. 

A  great  deal  of  sexual  response  is 
not  only  learned,  but  is  also  Pavlov  ian. 
These  factors  allow  the  sexual  inhibitions 
of  our  culture  to  become  a  part  of  the  in- 
dividual.   They  also  cultivate  a  split  in 
society  allowing  a  division  to  occur  be- 
tween those  who  respond  in  a  hetero- 
sexual manner,  and  those  who  respond 
In  a  homosexual  manner.    Both  groups 
have  become  trained  to  satisfy  sexual 
urges  in  a  certain  way  by  the  fact  that 
such  a  response  has  fulfilled  their  need 
for  orgasm  in  the  past  and  at  the  same 
time  been  at  least  not  incompatible  " 
with    their  emotional  needs. 

If  the  artificial  Inhibitions  did  not  ex- 
ist, society  would  become  aware  that 
there  are  many  combinations  of  res- 
ponses quite  capable  of  satisfying  indi- 
vidual sexual  urges.    If  multi-sexual 
responses  were  allowed  to  develop,  the 
individual  would  be  much  freer  to 
choose  situations  and  associations  which 
gave  more  consideration  to  other  emo- 
tional needs. 

Theorizing  on  the  origins  of  present 
sexual  attitudes  is  just  that  —  theor- 
izing.   What  is  apparent  is  that  these 
attitudes  have  no  real  validity  now,  if 
they  ever  had,  and  they  must  be  aban- 
doned.   They  have  become  harmful. 

Societal  propaganda  is  self -perpetu- 
ating, and  a  definite  effort  must  be 
made  to  counteract  it. 


su 


The  Body  Politic  19 


home  sweet  home  where  are  you 


In  February  of  1971,  the  Steering  Com- 
mittee of  the  newly  formed  Community 
Homophile  Association  of  Toronto,  bet- 
ter known  as  C.H. A. T. ,    nervously 
put  out  $50.00  as  a  deposit  and  $50.00 
more  as  the  first  months  rent  on  a  small 
office  at  6  Charles  Street  East.    This 
small  office  at  the  top  of  a  leg-destroying 
3  story  climb  became  C.H.A.T.'s 
presence  in  the  Community.    Since  mat 
tune,  C.H.A.T.  has  been  on  .i  never- 
ending  starch  for  a  home  large  enough 
to  have  offices,  a  drop  ui  centre,  quiet 
rooms  for  counselling,  and  all  those 
other  facdlties  required  by  a  full-blown 
social  service  agency. 

We  have  looked  at  a  stable  on  St. 
Nicholas  St,  the  2nd  and  3rd  floors  of 
an  office  building  on  Yonge  St,  the  sec- 
ond floor  of  the  Ward  Price  Building,  an 
office  building  on  Yorkville  Ave.,  the 
outside  of  a  Fire  Hall  on  Lombard  St., 
and  finally  a  Church-cum-Synagogue- 
cum -church  on  Cecil  Street. 

The  Yonge  St.  building  looked  good. 
Negotiations  started  around  the  middle 
of  May.    With  the  help  of  our  lawyers 
we  drew  up  a  formal  Offer  to  Lease 
and  presented  it  to  the  owner's  real  Es- 
tate agent.    The  owner  sent  it  back  with 
amendments  which  effectively  killed 
negotiations.    We  waited.    Finally  the 
owner  came  back  with  a  second  proposal 
which  looked  better.    We  made  our 
changes  and  back  it  went.    He  made  his 
changes,  and  we  accepted  it.    Wow! 
Things  looked  great.    Then  came  the 


crunch.    In  order  to  set  up  shop  as  an 
organization,  we  had  to  provide  the  Com- 
mittee of  Adjustment  at  City  Hall  with 
an  acceptable  proposal  for  parking  forjt- 
ities.    This  meant  that  we  hud  to  line  up 
a  lease  for  parking  space  for  i  car  for 
each  10  members  of  the  organizations, 
present  it  to  said  Committee  of  Adjust- 
ments, and  wait  for  their  approval. 
They  would  not  however,  be-  meeting  un- 
til   mid-August.    Popl    The  bubble  burst. 

The  St .  Nicholas  Si .  stable  would  cost 
too  much  to  fix  up,  Ward-Price  had  in- 
adequate fire  exits,  Yorkville  Ave.  was 
too  expensive,  Lombard  St.  Fire  Hall - 
too  many  hassles  submitting  a  tender, 
Lombard  St.  print  shop-too  expensive 
to  fix  up.    Which  brings  us  to  Cecil  St. 

C.H.A.T.'s  own  redoubtable  Brian 
Chart  mentioned  in  July  that  a  campy 
old  church  near  his  place  had  a  for-rent 
sign  on  it.    Fearless  leader,  George 
Hislop,  with  a  what -the -hell -I'm -not- 
busy-right-now  attitude  called  the  owner 
and  made  an  appointment  to  see  it.    The 
price  appeared  to  be  way  over  our  heads 
but  because  it  was  a  slack  afternoon,  we 
went  anyway. 

It  was  not  love  at  first  sight.    It  took 
at  least  three  minutes  for  the  knee- 
weakening,  gut-churning-  groin  tighting 
passion  to  take  hold.    First  there  was 
the  main  hall  on  the  first  floor.    Sixty 
one  feet  by  Sixty -one  feet  of  gleaming 
durable  hardwood!    A  thirty-five  foot 
dome  waited  for  the  velvet  stairs  of 
acid  rock  to  show  off  its  potential  foi 


reverberation.    A  wide  gallery  on  three 
sides  overlooked  the  floor     And  above 
all,  the  biggest,  campiest,  goddamdest 
brass  chandelier  in  the  City  of  Toronto, 
and  possibly  North  America.    Off  the 
main  hall  we  found  a  small  office  wing, 
big  enough  for  4  small  offices,  and  to 
the  unconcealed  delight  of  your  writer, 
C.H.A.T.'sclutcherof  the  purse-strings 
there  was  an  honest-to-God  safe.  The 
basement  was  found  to  be  hopelessly 
cut  up  into  small  senseless  rooms,  but 
closer  examination  revealed  that  uVy 
could  all  be  torn  down.    Visions  of 
coffee  shops,  bars  and  kitchens,  dan- 
sed  in  our  heads.    Meanwhile,  up  in 
the  balcony,  we  found  an  exit  onto  the 
roof  of  the  office  wing --Instant  Roof 
Garden!    We  then  came  back  to  the  of- 
fice, each  plotting  ways  and  means, 
and  each  in  a  state  of  figurative  tumes- 
cense  for  the  place! 

It  has  been  about  three  months  since 
that  date.    Negotiations  have  been  going 
on  in  that  time  with  the  usual  blinding 
speed  of  these  deals.    We  are  now  at 
a  point  where  we  feel  with  a  certain 
cautious  optimism  that  we  may  have 
found  a  home,  but  a  lot  remains  to  be 
done  before  we  are  there. 

In  any  case,  C.H.A.T.  goes  on  doing 
its  thing,  trying  to  make  things  better 
for  us  all .    Please  continue  to  support 
us,  take  out  a  membership,  come  to  the 
dances,  give  money,  so  that  the  Drop- 
in  Centre  will  be  a  reality,  and  not  just 
a  far-off  glint  in  our  eyes. 


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